How to Make and Keep Godly FriendsSýnishorn

Who Needs Friends?

We all need friends. Godly friends give us a sense of connection and belonging. They can help relieve stress, provide comfort, share the good times and the bad, lift us up when we’re down. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 says, “Two are better than one…if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”

Friends keep us from being lonely. They provide a safe zone for bouncing off ideas, dreams, frustrations, and fears. Even doctors report that friendships have a positive effect on our health and well-being. A recent study followed nearly 1,500 older people for 10 years and found that those with a large network of friends outlived those with fewer friends by more than 20%.

The Bible shows that the Apostle Paul had these kinds of deep connections in his life. Much is said of his relationship with the young Pastor Timothy (Philippians 2:22), and we also see that his friend Titus was a huge comfort to him. “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus…” (2 Corinthians 7:5,6).

There is definitely safety in numbers, and friends can keep us from becoming prey to the enemy. First Peter 5:8 says “the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Think about a lion in the wild. Who is he seeking to devour? Those who are off by themselves, away from the herd, isolated and alone. It's the same with you. Friends can be a safe place for you—your place of belonging, warding off the attacks of the devil.

Everybody needs friends! So, is there a secret to making and keeping godly friends?

There are some sound, helpful keys that might be getting overlooked in today’s social-media, technology-obsessed culture. It’s socially acceptable to walk around with our ears plugged and our noses in a phone with online “friends” but our hearts are crying out for true connection. Online friends can't hug you when trouble comes, visit you when you're sick, celebrate a milestone with you, or be there to help or support or love you in a myriad of other ways.

The most important and powerful human connections we make happen when we’re face-to-face. That requires effort on our part.