Friends

The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal law of increasing entropy, stating that the entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium. All things tend to move from a state of "order" to a state of "disorder." Can anyone doubt this doesn't also hold true for our friendships and relationships sometimes because of sin? They whither away. Enthusiasm passes to passiveness and passiveness passes to indifference and indifference passes to non-concern.

At the risk of offending friends, I realize how few true friends I have. True friends hold you accountable and are reliable. They are not easily angered. They build you up, but are not afraid to criticize constructively on a positive note. C.S. Lewis says friends are people that are traveling in the same direction, have similar aspirations and encourage each other in attaining those aspirations. Friends are not people that bring you down; and they're not people who are jealous and prone to anger. Friendship doesn't always expect something in return. Friendship can entail criticizing only to build up the other party. Friendship imbued in antagonisms can quickly dissipate and dissolve. We might even embrace the ways of our antagonist in spite. Such friendships eventually whither. True friends don't say if there is anything I can do for you than just let me know, and then they back down when you call on them.

"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."
—Psalm 118:8

"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity."
—Ecclesiastes 1:2

"Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."
—Proverbs 27:10