By Not Known
We humans are social creatures. This is an echo of God’s own social or relational
nature in the Trinity. This means that we are designed for the company of others
(Gen 2:18). In good social relationships, other people complete and complement
us, provide care and bring us much joy.
Christian fellowship and family are important expressions of this social identity
and, as Genesis 2 expounds it, marriage is an especially close form of social
relationship (Gen 2:21-25).
What about our friends?
The Bible has much to say about the nature and value of friendship, both positive
and negative. (Try looking at words like ‘friend‘ and ‘companion‘ in a
concordance to track this teaching.) A good friend is something to thank God for
and a good friendship is well worth the effort of care and cultivation.
What is the ‘end‘ or purpose of our friendships?
As Prov 13:20 tells us, bad friends will lead us to bad ends. But a good friend will
lead us to wisdom. And in this case, ‘wisdom‘ means a life lived in harmony and
fellowship with God.
Take a few minutes to think about your close friendships. Where are they leading
you and your friends? Are your friendships leading you to be friends with God or
friends with the world (Jas 4:4)? What can you do to turn your friendships in the
direction of helping one another to be friends with God? A good friendship
prepares us for eternal life with God. A bad friendship takes us from God.
Much of this is summed up in Hebrews 10:23-25;
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
A good friend will help us hold the hope, spur us on in godliness and encourage us
in the faith.
May God give us such friends and give us to others as such a friend. Then our
friendships will end in heaven.