Everyone loves good friendships. We all appreciate the fun and enjoyment that comes with having friends. No doubt, friendship is a wonderful thing. Over the next few lessons, we will gain a deeper appreciation for those people we call friends and think over how we can become better friends ourselves. God gives us a lot of advice on having friends, including the fact that we must take our friendships seriously.
What does the Bible say?
- Prov. 12:26 – It’s good to be cautious when choosing friends.
- I Cor. 5:9-11 – Do not hang out with people involved in sin.
- I Cor. 15:33 – Beware, bad company will corrupt good habits.
- Prov. 19:6-7 – Watch out for people who want to use you.
- Prov. 13:20 – Having wise friends will make a person wise.
God gives us a lot of advice on having friends, including the fact that we must take our friendships seriously.
What should I do?
When it comes to making friends, Scripture does not imply that we should hang out with whoever will hang out with us. Rather, we are told to carefully choose individuals who demonstrate godliness. Some good questions to ask may be:
- Will this person bring me closer to the Lord or pull me away from Him?
- Is this person living the kind of life that God would want me to live?
In order to enjoy good friendships, we must first have good friends. Only then will we be able to enjoy the benefits God offers through those relationships. Next, we will look at those benefits and the purposes God has for our friendships.
