The Benefits of Friendship
We were created for relationship both with God and with others. The Bible is extremely clear on that teaching, and nowhere do we find better motivation for developing healthy relationships than in Ecclesiastes 4 where wise King Solomon writes about the blessings of true friendship.
Solomon writes about three particular areas that you will be blessed by friends.
First, a true friend will help you to get up after a fall. A friend will scoop you up, take away some of the burden, and get you back to your feet.
Second, in those cold times a friend will stay close and help to keep you warm.
Third, a true friend will help to protect you in a time of danger.
The three examples provided by Solomon include problems the are self-induced, difficulties that result from natural forces that are beyond our control, and situations that are a result of poor decisions by others. Really, I can't imagine any problem that we could face that wouldn't fit into one of these areas.
Solomon makes it clear that no matter what the source of the problem, a friend can help in difficult times. And after he points out the value of two people being friends, he adds one more note-three are better than two!
Go out and make some new friends and build stronger, healthier relationships. Many of us hold back and "protect" ourselves by not letting others too close. Usually this is a result of hurt from poor relationships in the past, but we need to put that behind us and move forward to build good friendships.
Father, I am grateful for the wonderful friends that are a blessing to me. I pray that you would help me to be a true and genuine friend to others.
Solomon writes about three particular areas that you will be blessed by friends.
First, a true friend will help you to get up after a fall. A friend will scoop you up, take away some of the burden, and get you back to your feet.
Second, in those cold times a friend will stay close and help to keep you warm.
Third, a true friend will help to protect you in a time of danger.
The three examples provided by Solomon include problems the are self-induced, difficulties that result from natural forces that are beyond our control, and situations that are a result of poor decisions by others. Really, I can't imagine any problem that we could face that wouldn't fit into one of these areas.
Solomon makes it clear that no matter what the source of the problem, a friend can help in difficult times. And after he points out the value of two people being friends, he adds one more note-three are better than two!
Go out and make some new friends and build stronger, healthier relationships. Many of us hold back and "protect" ourselves by not letting others too close. Usually this is a result of hurt from poor relationships in the past, but we need to put that behind us and move forward to build good friendships.
Father, I am grateful for the wonderful friends that are a blessing to me. I pray that you would help me to be a true and genuine friend to others.
About the Author:
Dr. Ann Shorb is a counselor with CCES in southern PA. CCES offers Christian Marriage Counseling, Christian Premarital Counseling, and help for a number of other issues.
Post a Comment