We all want to belong. From a young age we are looking for where we “fit.” We want to feel invited and included, but sometimes this comes at a cost. We try to change ourselves to fit a particular mold or personality. We get rejected by people we thought were our friends. We shift our values in order to keep the peace.
So what does it look like to have godly friendships?
We’re not promised that our relationships will always be easy or we won’t have disagreements, but Scripture gives us some guiding principles. Here are some things you can look for:
Jesus is the ultimate example of friendship.
“This is My commandment: Love one another in the same way as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:12-13 NLT
Good friends are loyal.
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. – Proverbs 17:17 NLT
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24 NLT
Good friends give honest counsel.
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. – Proverbs 27:17 NLT
Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. – Proverbs 27:9 NLT
Good friends are wise.
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. – Proverbs 13:20 NLT
The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. – Proverbs 12:26 NLT
Good friends love others like Jesus.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. – 1 John 4:11 NLT
Good friends encourage one another in faith.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25 NLT
