My Path To Jesus
Making New Friends
Friendships are a good thing, provided they edify us and build us up in Christ. While it's a blessing to have godly and righteous friends, the opposite is also true: unrighteous and wicked (remember wicked are those who do not obey the Bible) friends can influence us to do what is wrong. This is why the Bible warns us about choosing the right friends.
Three Things Every Christian Should
Remember When Making Friends
Yes, we are commanded to preach the Gospel to all men, especially unbelievers. But we are also warned against having fellowship with them. Why?
Webster defines fellowship as the "mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms" and also as a "joint interest." Simply put, to fellowship with others means having a mutual relationship based on the same interests. There's a sharing or exchange of beliefs and ideas.
If this is how it really means, then we cannot fellowship with those who do not love God. We can reach out to them, pray for them, and love them by bringing them to Christ, but we should be careful not to accept their beliefs into our own. We don't have the same faith.
So friends, choose to make friends with the right people. Reach out to and pray for as many as you can, but only choose a few people whom you can trust with your life.
1. Why We Need Christian Friends
The Bible also shares insight into the power that friendships have in our lives. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs reminds us that the company we keep rubs off on us. When we spend time with others who are pursuing the Lord, their passion, love, and example encourages us in our own Christian journey. The opposite is true, when we spend our time with people who are not pursuing righteous living, then we can begin to suffer the harm that their choices bring about. Many of us, thinking that we will be a good influence to others, end up being influenced by them. While that could be good if the person we befriend is a good influence, what if the people we choose to make friends with are actually doing wrong things? No matter how "strong" we think we are, the Bible's words still hold true: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." 1 Corinthians 15:33 Finding a community of other believers to do life with is an essential part of what discipleship, accountability, and spiritual growth looks like. Sunday church is a great place to worship with other believers as a group but it is in the intimate conversations with friends, the moments of tough love, and the midnight calls for prayer that we get into the nitty gritty of living out our faith. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says it this way, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." When we are connected with others who are also connected to Jesus our faith and ability to endure the harder season that life brings is strengthened. We need the help of others to live bold, faith-filled lives! God knows this to be true and that is why he tells us don’t be alone. Find others to do this life with so you have the support you need.
2. How To Make Christian Friends
Church is a great place to connect with other Christ-followers. Small Group can be a lifeline and a place where you can open-up about your struggles and see God answer countless prayers. Small groups are also usually the primary way that you begin to build relationships with others who attend your same church. Make an effort to be present at church events and get involved. Just showing up to church every Sunday without getting involved isn’t going to foster the community of friends or future spouse you are looking for. Don’t just show up when you feel like it. Show up, engage and show up consistently. Pray for God to guide you to the right group and ask God how you can make a difference and serve others while you are there. It can be awkward at first to start small talk with someone you have just met but the great thing about church is that you at least know you have that in common! Begin breaking the ice by sharing your experience with your faith community and see where things go from there.
3. Who To Befriend
Some people think it's a sin to be friendly. Wrong. It's a sin to be unequally yoked with people who hate God and who are not Christians. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15