Some things are harder to repair than to build originally. One of these is a broken friendship. The Bible says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19).
Nothing is more valuable than our friends. Asked the secret of his life, a great man said, “I had a friend.” Our friendships should be guarded with the utmost care. We should be loyal to our friends. When they confide in us, their secrets should be strictly kept. To betray a confidence is to offend. When our friends are unjustly criticized, we should defend and uphold them. Someone has said, “No man could stand to hear what his friends say about him behind his back.” But this should not be true of real friendship.
Don’t ever take your friends for granted. Tell them how much you appreciate them. A note of thanks and gratitude can work wonders in keeping friendships in good repair. Understanding and consideration are essentials.
The best rule for avoiding offenses is the Golden Rule. Jesus said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). If you live by this rule, you will be blessed with many friends and avoid many offenses.