Friendships: What They Mean To Us

 

         I'm working through a bible study on friendships.  God built us for community and one of those is the community of friendship. According to Wikipedia, friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association.  "True friendships are hallmarked by each member's desire to engage with the other - it's about mutual interest in one another's experiences and thoughts, as well as a sense of 'belongingness' and connection , Friendships require reciprocity - of admiration, respect, trust, and emotional and instrumental support."

      What are some words that describe a good, healthy friendship? Affable, affectionate, amiable, amicable, attentive, available, believable, brave, caring, cheerful, considerate, cordial, discerning, easygoing, empathetic, faithful, forgiving, funny, generous, gentle, giving, good listener, heartfelt, honest, humorous, intentional, jovial, just, manageable, meaningful, nice, open minded, polite, pleasing, respectful, reachable, sincere, simple, teachable, trustworthy, valued, vulnerable, worthy, yielding, and zany.   Not every friendship includes all of these descriptions, but they are a list of possiblities to strive towards.

      What are some barriers we face in finding or holding on to good friendships?  Being truly known for who we are and risking being rejected or unloved, Risk of being hurt because we are sinners, Transparency in deeper relationships opens us up for more vulnerability, Being less alone can be difficult but also good for our souls.

John 15:14-15  "You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

"Sin demands to have a man by himself.  It withdraws him from the community.  The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him."  Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

        Friendship is scary but it is wort the risk.  Isolation is riskier and that is where the enemy wants for us because it is easier for him to destroy us with negative thoughts and lies.  Join me in the coming blogs and learn more about what true friendships mean for us and our lives.