Godly Friendships Feed Faith

10/28/24 – 11/02/24

The Art of Godly Friendships

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  10/30/24

In the last 50 years, we have seen sweeping technological advancements—yet technology has done little to confront the problems of loneliness and emptiness. Perhaps like no other time in human existence, loneliness plagues teenagers and adults alike. The inability to make and to keep friends has become a common disease. Even among Christians, godly friendships have become a lost art.

One of the first recorded sentences God ever uttered about the man whom He created was the following: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). It is imperative that we know how to develop godly friendships. To do so, we need look no further than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Proverbs 18:24 tells us that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Jesus is such a friend.

When sin penetrated the hearts of Adam and Eve, they not only became alienated from God, but they also became alienated from each other. When Jesus died on the cross, He made it possible for all who believe in Him to be in fellowship with God—and also in godly fellowship with one another. Godly friendships are the evidence of our belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. But godly friendships are not found; they are made. They are built up stone by stone. They are established on Biblical principles.

Prayer: God, I recognize my need for godly friends. I pray that You would put some godly friends in my life and that we would point one another to You, together seeking Your face. Thank You for Your friendship. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).