One night after a late milkshake run, my roommates and I were gathered in my friend’s bedroom, poking fun at her abrasive behavior towards her friends. She defended herself by saying that it is all lighthearted, and that while she might like to torment us, she would also cut off her foot and give it to any of us if needed.
Then she flipped the question on us asking if we would do the same. This led to a whole debate on why a foot, why would we need a foot, what reason would we have to give our foot, what about a kidney, what about both kidneys, and a lot of back and forth on that. We even face-timed those that were not with us at the moment and asked them the same question, basically receiving confusion and weird looks in return.
While it was a very amusing conversation, the intent behind it was real. My friend strongly believes that she would give her foot (or kidney) to any of us that would need it. Do you know if you have a friend that would do that? Are you the type of friend that would give up a body part for someone else?
There are many types of relationships that are mentioned the Bible. Two of the most common relationships the Bible focuses on are between husband and wives and the family unit. While those are important relationships, the Bible also takes a special interest on the necessity of friends (the family that we choose). This emphasis can be seen in the second part of Proverbs 18:24 (KJV), which states, “And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
One of the best friendships in the Bible is between David and Jonathan, a relationship that proved stronger than a familial one. In 1 Samuel 20, they forged a friendship covenant with each other that no outside force could break. Jonathan’s dad, King Saul, wished David dead. The king tried to kill him multiple times, but throughout it all, Jonathan stood by David’s side. He tried to convince his father not to kill David, and even warned David about an attempt on his life. David, in return, spared Saul’s life when he had the chance to kill him and took care of Jonathan’s son after Jonathan’s death.
Friends was a tv show that embodied its name as shown with the closeness between its characters. What would it be like to have a friendship like Joey and Chandler’s or Monica and Rachel’s? What can we do to form a friendship similar to David and Jonathan?
According to the first part of Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.” That sounds pretty obvious, but that leads one to ask what exactly constitutes as friendly. Most qualities for friendship are the same as the qualities that the Bible asks us to use in treating people in general. It follows the normal “do unto others…” protocol, along with other basic Bible principles such as the following: love others, do not slander, forgive transgressions, be humble, and show compassion and kindness.
It is very easy to appear friendly, but we are warned about the choice of friends we make. The Bible leaves us with a warning in Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Basically, we need to find others who exhibit biblical friendship qualities
Here are some other verses that show the benefits of friendship.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
- Proverbs 27:17 – Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
- John 15:13 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will life up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.
