Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend loves at all times.

We will have many friends in our lifetime.  Some of these "friends" love us when we are having the cool parties, wearing the best clothes, when we are popular and on top of the world.  These friendships are usually fleeting because they are based on shallow, temporary things. 

Then there are those friends who love us when we feel completely unlovable.  They are there for us when we are broke, down on our luck, sick, when we've just been dumped or humiliated. We are lucky to have a handful of these friends in a lifetime.  This is the kind of friend I want to have and the kind of friend I want to be.

Jesus Christ is a friend who will never leave us or forsake us, but He will go with us even until the end.  He is there through all our low points and is ready to pick us up, dust us off, and encourage us to do better.  He is also there to cheer us on and celebrate our accomplishments.  He is never jealous when we are at our best, or embarrassed of us when we meet failure.

We should examine our relationships and make sure we are being the best friends we can possibly be.  Invest your time in your friends...listen to them, be an encourager, and most of all, love them with a genuine, lasting love.