THE PURPOSE OF FRIENDSHIP WITH BIBLICAL REFERENCES

 WHO IS A FRIEND?

three ladies who are friends

A friend is a companion, someone you respect and respects you in return, but is not a member of your family. Friendship entails relationships. You give special attention to your friend, spend time together, share thoughts and ideas, visit each other and often have outings together. Most people have at least a friend regardless of demography. Kids make friends at school, in the neighbourhood or wherever they can find friendship. Young adults have friends, married people and even the elderly have friends. The poor have friends, the rich do, traditional rulers make friends, religious leaders and the political class is not exempted. Whenever you find yourself within and without your family circle, you will likely need a friend to relate with.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FRIENDSHIP?

Friendship is a fundamental part of human coexistence and relationships. Friendship exists to prevent loneliness and isolation. True friendship exists for association, affection and loyalty. True friends care for each other and are available in times of need and will still be there when others turn their backs.

Friendship is influence. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend (Prov 27:17-NLT). Friendship should be value-driven, spurring one another unto good works and deliberating seeking and promoting the advancement of each other.

SEVEN QUALITIES OF FRIENDSHIP WITH BIBLE VERSES

Love: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Prov 17:17-NKJV). Love is a necessary quality for a successful friendship. Most of the qualities of good friendships are embedded in love.  "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things" (1 Cor 13:4-7-ESV). 

Forgiveness: Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends (Prov 17:9-NLT).

Kindness: He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty (Job 6:14 - ESV)

Counselling: The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense (Prov 27:9-NLT).

Trustworthy/Sincerity: Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy (Prov 27:6-NLT).

Faithfulness: Don't leave your friends or your parents' friends and run home to your family when things get rough; Better a nearby friend than a distant family (Prov 27:10-MSG). 

Prayerful: When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes (Job 42:10-NLT).

Friendship can and should be mutually beneficial. If you have faithful friends, value and respect them. Don't  betray them or let them down by being a bad friend. More than expecting so much from your friend, be a good friend.

Proverbs 18:19 “An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars” (NLT).

 

Be a good friend!

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