Today we live in a society that is very focused on getting ahead in life and relying on yourself to accomplish anything that you choose to pursue. One question, is this the way that is it supposed to be? Should we have the idea that everything needs to be done ourselves to accomplish success? If you look at the business world, a mutually beneficially partnership can determine how business will be successful for both parties. Each partner is benefiting from the strengths of the other and learning from the weakness. Partnership is the key to their success. In our lives what should our relationship with other people look like? Despite what we might think, we need each other. No one can stand alone forever. It is God’s plan that we not walk this Earth alone but that we have someone in our life that we can count on to help us along the way. He wants to understand the value of friendship.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Looking at what the Bible says there are many benefits to having friends in your life. It is common knowledge that when two people are working together more is accomplished. There are many things that we can accomplish on our own but there is a greater benefit of having someone to share in the work. More workers, more results. It is clear that God does not want us to be alone but to share our lives and in the labor for His Kingdom.
Living in this world, we never know what the day will bring us. We can be living in times of joy and prosperity, in conflict and destitution or anything in between. One thing that friendship allows is for someone to be there with us, wherever that it. Friends share in our times of joy and to care for us in our times of struggle. Our friends make our concerns their concerns.
A great example of friendship is Paul’s relationship with Timothy. Timothy was his traveling companion during his ministry, served him in Ephesus (Acts 19) and was with him in Rome during his imprisonment (Philemon 1). The time that they spent together serving the Lord and sharing in their struggles created a genuine bond of friendship that filled them both with joy.
“To Timothy, a beloved son: . . . I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy; when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:2-5
Many times we can often misinterpret a situation or not know what to do in a circumstance, but having a friend in our life, someone to hold us accountable and give us new perspective can make all the difference. Friendship allows us to share the things that our on our hearts, our fears and dreams and can help us pray through the difficult times. Without people involved in our lives it is easier fall into temptation, but a friend can help us guide us in the right direction.
Friendship is more than just being a concept; it is a committed life decision. Being a true friend takes dedication and willingness to look beyond you and think of the other person. To share in each other’s strengths and weakness, learn from differences, comfort in difficult times and rejoice in victories. God gives us people in our lives so that we can learn and grow and let ourselves be known. He wants us to encourage one another and share in the work that He gives us to do. We should be blessed to know that God gives us friends to share our lives as we give our lives to Him.
