Walk Of Life – Day 18, August 2021 -Thoughts From The Book Of Proverbs – Right Attitude
The Right Attitude To Be Friendly
A man who has friends must himself be friendly – Proverbs 18:24
This proverb applies the law of reciprocity to friendship. The law of reciprocity says that you reap what you sow. Therefore, if you want friends, be friendly. Sow friendship, reap friends.
If you can list down the qualities you need to be a good friend these are those that are to be considered as important.
1. You should be encouraging
2. Must speak the truth
3. Must say things in love.
4. Must uphold in prayer
5. Must be thoughtful
6. Must be loyal
7. Must forgive
8. Must not be judgemental
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Friendships are supposed to strengthen your walk with the Lord. As a good friend we must bring out the best in others. It is also your responsibility as a godly friend to come along side your friends and encourage them.
Being a good friend can be difficult. The secret of being a good friend is to abide in Christ. Remember the purpose of friendship: to honor God. Be the kind of friend God wants you to be. Seek God with all your heart and He will give you the power to be a good friend. Love others the way that Christ loves you and you will become the best friend a girl could ask for.
A bond of trust and loyalty grows between two friends who try to out serve each other. However, if giving only goes one way, over time the giver may grow weary in their solo service. Perhaps your Heavenly Father is calling you to fewer, more fulfilling friendships. He wants you to ratchet back your relationships to a manageable number. Who needs you to go deeper in this season of friendship? Pray for your friend and be emotionally available to enter into their world.
Most importantly, lock arms with the Lord Jesus in your growing friendship with Him. Your maturing friendship with Christ will develop your capacity to love and care for your friends. Friendship with deity brings reality to relationships on earth. Ask your friend to bow and pray with you to your mutual friend Jesus. Friends who pray together replace conflict with resolution and anger with joy. Confidants can be closer than blood relatives through the blood of Jesus!
Such a friend is rare indeed, for he “sticks closer” than his own family. Jesus is such a friend. As He told his disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus demonstrated this love when He died for us on the cross. O, what a Friend we have in Jesus!
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends. Proverbs 18:1 Never ever be selfish to your friend as you will be tagged unfriendly.
Hence the right attitude to be friendly is to be like our Lord Jesus Christ who chose us to be His friends by giving His own life for us.
