The Bible tells us as Christians, that it is very important to choose our friends wisely in this life. The Bible tells us to walk with wise people, to refrain from being "yoked" with unbelievers, and to help other saints with accountability and prayer. God's highest aim is to sanctify and transform us, and our friends can be a vital part of that, either to make it happen, or to make it more difficult! He wants us to grow spiritually, and to mature in our walk with Him.
If we have good, solid Christian friends to share this journey with, we can accelerate our growth and relationship with God. We can learn about God from our own adventures with Him, but then we can also learn from our friends' experiences with Him, too.
We can find some inspiring examples of friendship in the Bible. I encourage you to look up these passages and think about the relationships you see here:
Ruth and Naomi were friends, as well as relatives: Ruth chapter 1, especially 16-17
David and Jonathan: I Samuel 18:1-3
Elijah and Elisha: II Kings 2:2
Proverbs is a well-spring of advice concerning our choices of friends:
Proverbs 12:26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 14:6-7 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Proverbs 12:26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 14:6-7 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Our friends can be such a blessing! Let's praise God for them today!
Our pastor preached on this very thing last Sunday. We NEED Christian friends for encouragement and support. And we need them very badly at times for accountability!
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful to have three very close friends that I can actually be with physically, and I have a handful more that I have a long distance relationship with, but we correspond often. All of these friends are strong Christians and I am blessed by them!
This is so true! Those verses in Proverbs make you think, don't they! I thank the Lord for the internet to allow for even more Christian friends, hugs Caro xx
ReplyDeleteLife would be very drab and very lonely without friends, and Christian friends especially. No one but another Christian friend can know the joy of being able to give a heartfelt praise and thank you to the Lord for answered prayer.
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