Friends are valuable, one of the greatest blessings a man can have. Friends can sometimes be closer to one another than they are to those to whom they are related by blood (physical family). I have had many friends in my life. Some have ceased being friends over time but I keep on having new friends in my life.
‘Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend’. Pro. 19:4
We ought to seek after genuine, true friends, rather than opportunistic friends. I have had many people I called friends but they were only opportunistic. They may be close to you because of what you have or the position you are holding. Once they don’t get what they want, they disappear from your life. I have had many of these.
Friends can have positive or negative influences in our lives. We ought to be aware of the influence our friends have on us. ‘He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.’ Pro.13:20. Avoid those that will have negative influence in your life.
Friends can make or break us. We need to seek for friends who add value to us. We ought to seek after friends who will make us better people. ‘As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend’. Pro.27:17
Friendships must be reciprocal in nature. It is not one sided. Don’t allow your friends to take advantage of you. Develop a forgiving attitude towards them if they fail you and don’t hold grudges. You would rather separate ways if things don’t work out. Help them out in times of need. ‘A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity’. Pro.17:17.
In order to preserve friendship in our lives: Don’t gossip about your friends. Don’t betray your friend’s trust. Avoid hurtful conduct. Don’t become involved in your friend’s financial affairs. A lot of friendship is broken when we do things behind the backs of our friends. When they find out, trust would have been eroded. It is easy to earn trust initially but once eroded it is so difficult to earn it back.
You will never have close friends unless you desire them. You can only be a close friend to those who desire to be close with you. You cannot force someone to want to have you as a friend. Deep friendship must be equal and mutual.
Friendship must be pursued. They don’t just happen unless they are casual. Casual friendships don’t last at all. They are for that moment. Deep friendship requires regular contact. You must purpose to have friends and set it as a priority to you above some of the other things in your life. Friends are useful. They can be of great help to you in times of adversity. They are important in our lives.
We have to invest in friendships if they are to be of any benefit to us and put in the kind of things that will contribute to their success. This means a certain amount of work. Take advantage of common interests such as hobbies, and other activities to spend time building the relationships.
When friendships are properly picked, produced, and preserved, friends can be one of the most valuable assets and blessings a man can have. We need to create an atmosphere of making friends. We all need friends to stand with as they are indeed a blessing to have.
Friendships take time to build. We cannot take them for granted. The same things that build a relationship maintain a relationship.
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