weekly devotional

4-20-22

God Honoring Friendships

There are so many reasons to value friendship! Friends are often the first ones to know our problems, witness our excitement, and joyfully walk - through life with us. Some of the best are those friends you made when you were first getting into school and you never looked back and you have literally hundreds of memories with them. Then there are the friends that you pick up along the way and realize there are more cool people in the world! People who are amazing in ways we haven’t seen in others. The people we quickly connect with because we have so much in common. No matter who you are, friendship is important. Good friends can last a lifetime and great friends will learn how to help you be the best version of yourself. Check out these thoughts from Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived!


Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

People who link arms with you, understand you, encourage you, and deal with all of your lesser qualities value you! Friends are an amazing encouragement in life. They are relationships we should all guard from danger as well as be intentional about staying connected. Learning how to invest in your friends can be challenging, but investing in friends is also an investment in your future. It's important to learn to reach out, call and text, especially when we are separated by physical distance. I have a childhood friend who I talk to every month! We live 1,000 miles from each other and haven’t seen each other in years, yet our relationship has remained strong. The reason is because we have invested in it and when distance came between us, we continued to make an effort. I know I can call him about anything and he knows he can call me about anything. I would say I only have a handful of all my friends are ones that I can confide in completely. But it is those friends, some I have only known for a few years and some I have known for 20, who are of great value. 


How are you investing in your friends? Do you encourage them? Listen to them when they are upset? Do you celebrate with them in times of joy and success? Do you tell them “I am sorry” when you mess up or hurt them? Do you stand up for them and let them know they are your people? There are so many good ways to invest in our friendships. Unfortunately, there are just as many ways to ignore, hurt, and create distance. Be sure to be a friend that is always building and rebuilding the bridge. Because if you let the bridge burn, you may miss out on far more than you anticipated. 


Action Steps: 

Read Colossians 3:12-14

1. Take some time to reflect on how good a friend you have been. 

2. Then, consider what you could do to be a better friend today!