FRIENDSHIP
My Poem on Friendship
F orever
R espectful
I nterested
E ncouraging
N onjudgemental
D ependable
S incere
H elpful
I mpassioned
P atient
Friends…There are many types: funny, serious, long time, brand new, childhood friend, church family friend, work place friend, neighbor, family friend, or a friend that’s moved far away.
Whether we have just a few friends or numerous, each one is important. No matter where they are, near or far. They are all special for different reasons.
We’ve created memories with them. We’ve laughed together and cried together. We’ve shared secrets. We’ve opened our hearts and trusted their faithfulness.
There are about 200 scriptures in the Bible that talk about friends. The book of Proverbs has many helpful tips and much wisdom about friendship and friends.
The Lord is the key to good friendships.
To be a good friend takes time. That means we need to slow down. In a culture that seems to always be in a hurry slowing down is a challenge. We need to make time to be a friend.
When we open ourselves up to someone we become vulnerable. We open ourselves up for the possibility of getting hurt.
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)
Friends are important in our life. The amount of friends isn’t what matters. Quality is more important than quantity.
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
We need to have compassion and be sensitive to our friend and their needs. Sometimes just being available to be still and listen is what’s needed most. At times no advice is wanted, just a listening ear and a kind heart. Maybe even a hug.
“Bear one another’s burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
“Love one another” is the law of Christ.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)
A truly good friend is willing to listen and pray with us. A true friend will keep what is shared in confidence and can be trusted. A friend must be dependable.
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28
Sometimes we have to be honest with our friend. That can be uncomfortable but important. We might save them from disaster or regret. Correction or advice should be shared in a loving way. We may need to to be corrected or advised at some point also. Can we accept it graciously?
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
In the Bible is the story of Zacchaeus who literally went out on a ‘limb’ to connect with Jesus. Luke 19:1-10 describes how Zacchaeus climbed up into a tree just so he could see Jesus who was walking into town. Zacchaeus took the ‘leap’ for connection, his life was changed that day. In the presence of Jesus he repented and was saved.
Friends are important. We learn from them. They learn from us.
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)
Let’s be best friends with Jesus (BFFs), and we will learn how to be best friends with others.
“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:23 (NIV)
Jesus is our example of a true friend. He is our best friend ever.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. 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 15:13-15 (NIV)