As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp. Proverbs 27:17 (ERV)
REFERENCE
Proverbs 27:17 (ERV)
The Christian lifestyle is not one that is lived in isolation; we all need the company of other people to thrive and grow in a healthy and balanced way. God made us to be relational beings not ‘lone-rangers’. Besides, we can’t keep ourselves away from people and expect to have an impact on them.
Friendship is a relationship between two or more people, marked by mutual assistance, approval and support. It is the cement that holds every relationship together. True friendship binds people together; it gives them a healthy opportunity to love and be loved, as well as to give and receive blessings from one another.
As believers, many of our old friendship ties have been cut off, but we need to form new friendships with other believers. Friends that we will be accountable to, that will stretch us in our walk with God, pray with us, share our concerns, and sharpen us as iron sharpens iron.
Proverbs 18:24b shows us one of the benefits of having friends it says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” So it is possible to have a friend that will love and sacrifice for you more than any member of your family. David and Jonathan are a good example of such friendships. We can tell by how beneficial their friendship was to both of them that it was orchestrated by God who knew that they would need each other in the course of their lives.
Likewise, no man is an island; you need somebody somewhere in order to be all that God created you to be. Just like someone, somewhere needs you in his/her life in order to be all that God created him/her to be. People are your greatest assets; they are the avenue for God’s supply in your life.
Philippians 2:2 in the Message translation says, “…Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.” So, cultivate the habit of building and maintaining true friendships; it is a mark of real Christianity. If you are not sure how to go about it, you can start by simply being friendly and approachable to others.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY
I Samuel 18:1-4, 19:1-7, II Samuel 9:1-8 & Proverbs 27:10.
PRAYER POINTS
+ Ask God to deliver you from any form of self-centeredness and pride which might be repelling others.
+ Pray for the grace to be a good friend to others; and also to attract the right kinds of friends into your life.
Indeed there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Thank You Lord for gifting me with such friends.
I pray that I will continually attract the right friendships into my life, and also be the right friend for someone somewhere who needs me for where they are going to in life .
Lord I pray for the grace to be there for others even in trying times.
To be a friend indeed!
Amen!
father, I receive the grace to be able to cultivate the habit of building and maintaining true friendships in Jesus Name!