Friendship Principles
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Intro
Intro
Text - Proverbs 12.26
26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Title - Friendship Principles
Background
Background
What is a friend?
from Dictionary.com
a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard;
a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter
a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile
from the Bible
an associate or companion
the object of one’s affection or devotion
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
Why “friendship” is vital to living
everyone needs at least one companion/associate
I need a friend
someone needs my friendship
Key Issues
do I have the right friends?
who are my “best” friends?
am I a good “friend” to my companions?
how is my friendship with God?
how are my friends affecting my life - for the better or for worse?
how can I develop true friendship with someone?
Things I learned in life about friendship
there are friends for life, and there are friends for specific seasons of life
some friends are not worth keeping
some friendships are like a two-way road, others one-way
a one-way or one-sided friendship is not necessarily wrong or bad
one doesn’t really need so many friends - one can be enough
there are 2 critical stages in life when it comes to friendship -
the first stage - the times when we “need” a friend
the second stage - the times when we must “become” a friend to someone
being friends with God makes you less dependent on human friends, and still remain a good friend to them.
How do you choose your friends?
Know your needs before you make friends
Know your needs before you make friends
In the early years of life, we make friends because we ‘need’ them
If you are “in need” - your friends will most likely affect your life
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
If your needs are met - you are less likely to be affected by your friends
Find your needs in God, His word, and His people
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
shepherd come from the Heb word “raah”
“raah” is same word translated ‘friend’ or ‘companion’
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Establish friendship with God
Establish friendship with God
To be friends with God is to be partner in God’s plans for humanity
Abraham was called a friend of God
8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
Jesus called His disciples His friends
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
To be friends with God is to separate your life from the world
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Extend your friendship with God to your earthly friends
Extend your friendship with God to your earthly friends
Be a friends to those who need God in their life
34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Jesus was called a friend of sinners because He reached out to them and met their needs
Share your faith with your companions
14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Center your friendship on your common faith
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Be a friend - not because you need a friend, but because you want to share your friendship with God to those who need Him in their lives.
Song - Friendship with Jesus