26. Friendship

Way back at the beginning of time, after God had created the universe and populated it with all kinds of living things, Scripture says he looked at his work and saw it was good. However, after he made man, the Bible says that "the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). So he created Eve. And the world has never quite been the same!

Jokes aside, however, we all need somebody by our side. Introverted people are generally solitary people. I should know because I am one. However, although we might be able to move faster on our own, there are dangers in playing it solo. As the wise King Solomon once said: "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).

This is why Jesus always sent his disciples out in pairs. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits (Mark 6:7). He did the same with "seventy-two others, sending them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go" (Luke 10:1). Sending them out in pairs effectively cut the number of towns he could reach by half, but that was alright by him.

God, of course, recognized the principle of twos in the very beginning, which is why after creating Adam, he created Eve. A caring and understanding (and forgiving!) spouse can be the best partner one can hope for, but in the absence of a spouse, we need a good friend whom we can trust and depend upon.

The reasons are not hard to see. Working in pairs ensures mutual support, as we have already seen. It increases confidence because you know someone has your back. It reduces the burden considerably as some of the load is shared. It makes for an effective witness as one person can back up what the other person says and rush to the defense if required. It also reduces the danger of pride because it becomes a team effort. And, of course, there is the joy of companionship — it can get lonesome on your ownsome.

The Bible has some beautiful stories of friendship. One of the most well-known is the friendship between David and Jonathan, Saul's son. Other good examples are the friendships that existed between Ruth and Naomi, Elijah and Elisha, Paul, and Timothy, and, of course, Jesus and his apostles. "I have called you friends," he said to them at one point, "for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15).

Unfortunately, good friends are rare and hard to find, almost as tricky as finding a suitable life partner, which means we may need to enlist divine assistance. And once we make a good friend, we should keep them. Here are some ways to cultivate good friendships. Be a good listener. Show interest in their lives. Be dependable. Be honest and authentic. Practice forgiveness. Celebrate their successes. Spend time together.

So, let us choose friendship today, beginning with the one person we truly need to be good friends with — God. May he bless you and your friendships.

More in this category: « 04. Rest 27. Unity »
Click here for the extended "LIVE" versions: 1. Abundant Life
2. Perseverance
3. Humility
4. Rest
5. To Abide
6. To Wait
7. To Look Ahead
8. Light
9. Grace
10. Contentment
11. Love
12. Repentance
13. To Forgive
14. To Surrender
15. Joy
16. Faith
17. Discipline
18. Hope
19. Freedom
20. Gratitude
21. To Listen
22. Truth
23. Peace
24. Encouragement
25. To Imitate Christ
26. Friendship
27. Unity
28. To Remember
29. Conversion
30. Generosity
31. Revival
32. Integrity
33. Excellence
34. To Serve
35. Tongue Control
36. Courage
37. Wisdom
38. Purity
39. Stewardship
40. To Evangelize
Choice 01 — I Choose Abundant Life
Choice 01 — I Choose Abundant Life
Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
We begin our series on *40 Choices* we will make during Read More
Choice 02: I Choose Perseverance
Choice 02: I Choose Perseverance
We continue our series on #40Choices we will make during this season by choosing *Perseverance*. Please share the video and bless others.
Transcript
One day Jesus told his disciples a parable to sho Read More
Choice 03: I Choose Humility
Choice 03: I Choose Humility
We continue our series on *40 Choices* we will make during this season by choosing *Humility*. Please share the video and bless others.
Transcript
One day when Jesus was dining with a group of Phari Read More
Choice 04: I Choose Rest
Choice 04: I Choose Rest
We choose *Rest* today in our series on *40Choices*. Please share the video and bless others.
To watch the *expanded “live” versions* of these reflections, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofpraye Read More
Choice 05: I Choose to Abide
Choice 05: I Choose to Abide
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *to Abide* in Jesus Christ. To watch *expanded 30-minute live versions* of these reflections, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofprayer.
Choice 06: I Choose to Wait
Choice 06: I Choose to Wait
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose to *Wait*. Please share the video and bless others.
To watch *expanded 30-minute live versions* of these reflections, please visit https://bit.ly/hsih Read More
Choice 07: I Choose to Look Ahead
Choice 07: I Choose to Look Ahead
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose to *Look Ahead* in Jesus Christ. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute live version* of this reflection, please vis Read More
Choice 08: I Choose Light
Choice 08: I Choose Light
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *Light*. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute version* of this reflection, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofp Read More
Choice 09: I Choose Grace
Choice 09: I Choose Grace
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *Grace*. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute version* of this reflection, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofp Read More
Choice 10: I Choose Contentment
Choice 10: I Choose Contentment
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *Contentment*. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute version* of this reflection, please visit https://bit.ly/hsiho Read More

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