A Good Friend
“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Proverbs 27:9
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Friendship is a vital part of everyone’s life. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 explains, friendship is important to help us find joy in our life, encouragement in our toils, help when we fall, and strength in facing the oppositions of this world. Having good Christian friends who can help us be more accountable in our walk with God is important to help keep us focused on Him. Friends are there to listen and share in your joys and sufferings. They pray for you, help you when you fall, and rejoice for you when you succeed. They “do not merely look to ‘their’ own personal interests, but also the interests of others” (Proverbs 2:4). Friends do not shame you or control you, and they respect your ability to make your own decisions, whether they agree with you or not. They love you selflessly and without judgement, even when you fall. Good friends bring joy and comfort to your soul.
In your own life, can you attest to having good, Christian friends who can help and guide you in your walk with God? Do they help strengthen you and build you up? Do they have your back? Are they honest, even when honesty can hurt? Do they strive to love like Jesus? If so, take time this week to thank them for their friendship. Pray over your relationship together and that God would continue to bless your unity together in Him.
If not, take some time this week to pray for God to guide you to the right people. Ask Him to help you find opportunities for friendship and then be bold enough to obey when He opens the potential doors. It will take time, trial and error, but God will not leave you alone. Trust His faithfulness and His perfect timing to bring you to the right people. Understand what a good Biblical friendship will look like and have faith that there are good people who God will guide you to if you listen to and obey Him.
And lastly, regardless of your friendship status, ask yourself “How can I be a better friend to someone else?” You never know who is watching you and needs that friendship now more than ever. Embrace them with open arms and an open heart. Ask God to help you love others like He does and show you where you need to improve. If you’ve hurt someone, or have been hurt, and there has not been great effort to reconcile, seek God’s guidance in pursuing that. And if you have worked to reconcile a friendship and it has not been successful, or it is not safe to do so, take some time to pray over the situation. Pray for healing, understanding, discernment, safety, and strength for the both of you. Remember God is with you every step of the way.