Other Considerations

We have been designed by God to have relationships with other people. We were created to live in community. We need socialization to be healthy as people. We need a broad circle of friends that offer various perspectives to our lives. We are enriched by friendships.

However, we need to be cautious about who we allow to be close friends. Our deepest friendships need to be with people who have our best interests at heart. We have to be careful who we allow to serve as our closest confidants.

Psalm 1 – In this foundational Psalm, we read that a blessed person does not walk in step with the wicked, stand in the way of sinners or sit with mockers (Psalm 1:1). In other words, we are careful about those deep friendships in our lives.

Evangelism – We have been called to serve as witnesses for Christ. We are ambassadors for Him in our world. So, we should be in friendly relations with all kinds of people. Jesus was criticized for being too friendly with sinners. Indeed, He was. He was a friend of tax-collectors and sinners. He was the Great Physician who came to seek and save the lost. However, His deepest friendships were with the people He carefully chose. His disciples were carefully selected. We can learn well from His example. We need to be connected to people who need Jesus. We must be the evangelists that God desires. However, we also should follow the example of Jesus and develop deep friendships with people who are hand-picked.