The Friend Worth Keeping

Hey, Carpool Crew! Happy Saturday, day twelve of Proverbs for Your School Life. And today we're talking about that moment when your friend is about to do something you both know is a bad idea, and you have to decide whether to say something or just go along with it. I'm Pastor Justin. Listen to this from Proverbs 27:9. "Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel." In Solomon's day, oil and incense were the good-smelling stuff you saved for the best days. And self-counsel is a fancy way of saying trying to figure everything out alone. Solomon says a friend's honest words beat going it alone, every time. An easy friend agrees with everything. A real friend loves you enough to say the true thing. Jesus called His disciples His friends, and then He told them true things they did not want to hear. If Jesus were sitting on the porch steps with you this weekend, He would say, "The friends who only ever agree with you aren't really helping you. I tell you the truth because I love you. Be that friend. And keep that friend." It's Saturday afternoon, and your friend types a joke about another kid into the group chat. It's the mean kind of funny. He turns the phone so you can see it, grinning, thumb over the send button. You've got one second. "Don't send that. That's not you." Maybe he deletes it. Maybe he sends it anyway and calls you soft for the rest of lunch. You don't get to control that part. But he heard a true thing from somebody who actually likes him, and that lands somewhere, even if it takes a while. So today, here's the one thing you could try. Say one kind, honest thing a friend needs to hear, gently. Borrow this: "I'm saying this because I'm your friend." Or flip it. If a friend has ever told you a hard truth, thank them today. That friend is the oil and incense kind. Don't lose them. Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. A real friend tells you the truth. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you want more encouragement like this throughout the week, come follow us on Instagram. We post simple reminders, clips, and content you can share with your kids anytime. Hey, before you go, let's answer this question together. What's one kind, honest thing a good friend has told you, and did you ever thank them? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.