Are You a Good Friend?

Scripture: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a (NLT)

Can you imagine going through trials without support from friends or family? It is easier to navigate hardship when you have help from Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus told His followers to “do to others as you would like them to do to you” (Luke 6:31). Does this describe you? Read on to find out what what the Bible says about being a good friend.

Helping a Friend in Trouble

The Bible makes it clear that support from fellow Christians is a great blessing. We support one another and help those who are in trouble seek God for help: “the godly give good advice to their friends” (Proverbs 12:26), and “as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). Therefore, when you see someone who needs help, provide emotional and material support, as God has enabled you.

God’s Blessing of Christian Friends

Have you ever gone through a hard time? Maybe your child is sick and you are stressed. Or, maybe you’ve been trying to have a baby and you’re desperate for God to bless you with a child. During times like this, it’s a blessing to have family, friends, and coworkers praying with you. Can you imagine enduring these situations without the support of fellow Christians? Besides prayer, christian friends listen to us, sympathize with us, and provide material support. God works in their lives, and it is evident that they are obeying His command that we should “love one another” (John 13:34).

Where to Turn If You Have No Christian Friends

But what if you cannot be open about your faith? What if you have no-one to talk to about your problems because you do not know any other Christians? The Bible tells us to seek Jesus, the “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). When you encounter problems, you can pray that God will provide a way out, for He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). You can ask the Lord to provide Christians friendships so you can love one another and have support when life gets hard.