What The Bible Says About Friendship

Friendship is vital for our coexistence and essential to our development as Christians. However, we do not frequently learn about friendship in the church. The reason why friendship is rarely prioritized is that we believe it should happen quickly and easily.

No man is an island of his own. We all need each other to survive. Hezekiah Walker's hit song "I need you to survive." speaks on this.

"I need you; you need me,
We're all a part of God's body,
Stand with me, agree with me,
We're all a part of God's body,
It is His will that every need will be supplied,
You are important to me, I need you to survive"

Friendship is vital for our coexistence and essential to our development as Christians. However, we do not frequently learn about friendship in the church. The reason why friendship is rarely prioritized is that we believe it should happen quickly and easily. In contrast, brotherly and sisterly love necessitates a great deal of supernatural patience and practical competence.

Without biblical thought and instruction, we tend to have a twisted and frequently selfish idea of what friendship should be. Therefore, it is crucial that we not only understand the biblical meaning of friendship and preach it to others but also make sure that Christ is at the center of all our friendships.

Highlighted below are what the scripture says about friendship and the qualities godly friends should possess;

1. A true friend shows love, no matter what (Proverbs 17:17).
2. A true friend gives heartfelt advice, bringing joy to the heart (Proverbs 27:9).
3. A true friend rebukes when necessary, but the correction is done in love (Proverbs 27:5–6).
4. A true friend influences, enlivens, and sharpens (Proverbs 27:17).
5. A true friend avoid gossip (Proverbs 16:28).
6. A true friend forgives and does not hold grudges (Proverbs 17:9).
7. A true friend is loyal (Proverbs 18:24).
8. A true friend helps in time of need (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).

A good friend is faithful, loving, kind, and generous. A loyal friend will be there for you through all of life's ups and downs. A true friend will also have the guts to warn us if we are heading in the wrong direction or are about to make a decision that will destroy us. If you look closely in the scriptures, you will discover a trustworthy and firm friendship that we can emulate.

Firstly, the friendship between David and Jonathan. The Bible records that Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. Jonathan even made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. And so he took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt (1 Samuel 18:1-4).

Secondly, the friendship between Naomi and Ruth. It was a friendship forged out from tragedy. Ruth refused to go back to her father's home even after her husband and children died but decided to follow her mother-in-law wherever she went (Ruth 1:14-18).

We have to love our friends as Christ loves us. But keep in mind that friendship is not by force but by choice. The friends you make can influence your life either in a negative or a positive direction. Therefore, friendship is a responsibility that you should not take lightly. So be a true friend and choose your friends wisely.

Spread Love, Spread Jesus

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