How to "Friend"

The desire for meaningful friendship is a beautiful and very human want. We were made for relationship and both the desire for and friendship itself, are gifts from God. Yet, so many of us often feel alone; or, lost in a sea of acquaintances, we feel like we don't have any "real" friends. We feel alone. We find ourselves focussing more on "fitting in" than belonging; of allowing ourselves to be known by different "versions" of ourselves, rather than who we actually are. How are we to overcome this? We live in a time in which social media shapes our culture and our thinking so much. We click "add friend" to add "friends." Yet, we find little fulfillment in this. How are we to actually "Add Friend" in real life? How do we "friend?" Why is it more important to "belong" in a friendship, than to simply "fit in?" What can we learn from Jesus about what true friendship looks like? How can we follow his example? These are some of the questions we set out to answer as we reflect on Scripture, our own experiences, and of course, (and in a very much deep and personal way) our own friendship.

*Scriptures we mention in this episode: *

Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Sirach 6:14-17
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure. There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence. A faithful friend is an elixir of life; and those who fear the Lord will find him. Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his neighbor also.

Pov 18:24
There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

John 15:12-13
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1 thes 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Col 3:13
forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Gal 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Eph 4:29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

Heb 3:12-13 Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 10:23-24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Eph 5:15-20 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. 21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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