Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. --Proverbs 27:10

C.S. Lewis made many friends when he was a student at Oxford University—long before he became a world famous author. Many of them became lifelong friends and authors like himself. Many times Lewis and his friends would get together to discuss and read to each other their works in progress.

As a result, the sessions strengthened their friendships and their writings as well. Nevill Coghill and Owen Barfield were part of the group.   Two men were beginning to establish themselves as authors but were not nearly as profound or successful as their friend, C.S. Lewis. Lewis wrote his books more quickly than the other two and more of his works were showing up on bestseller lists in countries around the world.

Lewis' success could have meant the end of his friendships with the other two authors. But the more his books gained popularity, the more Lewis seemed to value his friends. According to Owen Barfield, not once did Lewis cause the others to feel inferior to him. He didn't allow his success to corrupt and destroy the long-standing relationships he had made years earlier.

Like Lewis, many of us would agree that friends strengthen our character, enrich our lives, and keep us grounded. Friends multiply our joy and separate our grief. But more often than not, we can't seem to find the time to sustain friendships amidst our hectic schedules and list of activities. Make time today to nurture old friendships and develop new ones. If our lives are to be fulfilled, then our friendship with others must be a priority.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would create the time and opportunities to strengthen your longstanding friendships and develop new ones.

Click here to visit Senior Living Ministry's website