For better or worse, our friends hold a significant place in our lives. They can steer us toward good life choices or lead us astray. Wisely selecting them is crucial, as they can foster or hinder our growth.
The Bible offers us numerous profound examples of friendship: Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, and the paralytic and his four friends… to name a few. And let’s not forget the ultimate example of friendship: Jesus Christ, who selflessly sacrificed Himself on the cross for you and me without any assurance of our acceptance. If that isn’t the epitome of friendship, what is?
The tell-tale signs of a true friend
According to the Bible, how do you know you’ve found a true friend? A real friend is:
Honest– Proverbs 24:26
Kind– 2 Sam 9:7
Loyal- Proverbs 17:17
Encouraging– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Not envious– 1 Samuel 23:17
Friendship goals
The story of the paralytic in Mark 2 is an excellent example of faith, forgiveness, and friendship. Unlike the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda from John 5, who had no support system whatsoever, the paralytic from Mark 2 had a group of friends who loved him so much that they carried him to Jesus.
Becoming a good friend
The Concentric Circles of Concern: Seven stages for making disciples, by W. Oscar Thompson Jr., is a book I read in college that I recommend to anyone who wants to change the world or make a difference. In this book, the author emphasizes the concept of mission as a wave that moves from the inside out. In other words, the mission starts at home. This is why Jesus’ last words to His disciples before ascending to Heaven were: “go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then the uttermost part of the earth”. The disciples were to start at home with each other and then move on to the rest of the world.
The disciples could only successfully carry out their mission of bringing others to Jesus by learning from their master. The same is true for us today. The only way to become a good friend is by learning from the ultimate friend, Jesus.
If you want to become a high-quality friend, the best way is to prioritize your quality time with Jesus.
Would you like to be remembered as one of the paralytic’s friends? Or as one of Job’s friends? How do you show up for your friends when they need Jesus the most?
Do you have true friends? More importantly, are you a true friend?