Friendship

Friendship

One of the greatest friendships in the Bible was between David and Jonathan. How do you think they became such good friends?

What is a good friend? It’s in the Bible, “Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (Philippians 2:3, 4, TLB). Doesn’t that sound like a perfect friend?

Why do some people have lots of friends, while others have only a few? It’s in the Bible, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV). An unfriendly person will have few friends, but a friendly person will attract many friends. Now just because you don’t have a lot of friends doesn’t mean that you’re an unfriendly person, it may simply mean that you’re pickier about whom you hang out with. That’s not a problem if your heart is in the right place.

Real friendship involves loyalty— sticking by one another through thick and thin. The Bible says, “A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need” (Proverbs 17:17, TLB). Can you think of a time when you and your friend made it through a sticky situation?

Should a friend be honest, even if it hurts? It’s in the Bible, “Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy!” (Proverbs 27:6, TLB). Have you ever had to tell a friend something that might hurt his or her feelings?

What kind of friends should I choose? The Bible says, “Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22, TLB). We should avoid friendships with those who lead us into sin. Instead, choose friends who love the Lord and who have pure hearts. Choose wisely; your choice could mean the difference between success and failure in life.

Can gossip hurt friendships? The Bible says, “A gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28, NIV). Cut down the rumor weed!
Good friends are worth keeping. The Bible says, “Never abandon a friend” (Proverbs 27:9, TLB). There is a wonderful story in the Bible (see 1 Samuel 20) about the friendship of David and Jonathan. They were loyal to each other and had a close friendship.

Can I be Jesus’ friend? Yes! Jesus wants to be your Friend. He says, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15, NIV).