by Jerry Senn
Friendships are extremely important for a healthy social, as well as for spiritual relationships. Many people think of their pets (cats or dogs) as their very best friends. Perhaps this is because they never criticize, offer advice or ask questions.
However, human friendships can either move us closer to or further from our personal relationship with our heavenly Father. Jesus calls us “friends” if we choose to honor that relationship (John 15:14). We must allow him to be our very best friend, a helpful companion at all times and circumstances.
“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother” … “A friend is always loyal, and a brother [or sister] is born to help in time of need” (Prov 18:24 & 17:17).
God allows us to choose our own friends and we must choose wisely or we can be led down the path of eternal separation from our God.
James wrote: “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: if you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
“Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Listen carefully and consider who and what you consider your best friend.
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from the world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
(All scripture references are from New Living Translation.)