One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
~Proverbs 18:24
I have performed over two hundred funeral services during my entire pastoral career. Last week was perhaps one of the most difficult ones for multiple reasons. The deceased was a 37-year-old mother who left behind two teenage girls. At the end of my sermon, I directed my closing remarks to the two daughters, reminding them of the importance of choosing their friends wisely because our lives are shaped by those with whom we socialize.
Let me share some things about friendships.
1.Friends are the chosen few who will speak truth into your life through the good and bad seasons.
Because they love you, they are committed to encouraging growth and refinement in your life. Their commitment also involves being honest with you about your weaknesses.
"True friends stab you in the front."
~Oscar Wilde
Jesus is the best friend you can have, and as Christians, we are called to be like Jesus.
A Christ-like friend will stick closer than a brother. Your true friends commit for the long haul, come what may; challenges, sicknesses, losses—a great friend will be there through it all.
2. Friends are a gift from God used to help us build community and sharpen each other.
The quality of your friends determines the height of your success. Make sure you acquire a small group of Christ-centered friends who can speak truth and encouragement into your life, and you do the same for them.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Here are a few simple things you can do to be a good friend:
Pray for them daily.
Send them an encouraging text/ verse from the Bible.
Talk good about them in front of others when they are there.
Talk good about them in front of others when they are not there.
Be there to listen when they need to talk.
Start a Small Group with them to study God's Word to help them grow spiritually.
Pay attention to their needs and help them when you can.
Have a blessed week,
Pastor (Rev. Elias Limones)
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