Friends.
Hey everyone! It’s your girl Julie, back with another segment of “Salty & Lit.”
Pastor Dharius Daniels released a sermon called “What About Your Friends,” and y’all, that sermon CHECKED me. Let’s pray.
God, You are good. Thank You for the gift of friendship. Teach us to assess the relationships that You have given us and align them according to Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NLT).
When I read that verse, I see the author classifies different relationships: “friends,” real friends, and brothers. In other words, friendships have levels. Not everyone in your life is meant to be a close friend, and that’s completely fine. The problem starts when you try to treat others like friends, when that’s not their position.
But Julie, how can you know if that’s not their position?
I’m glad you asked, sis!
God gives us wisdom, and we can ask him. We can ask Him about the role that people have in our lives, but I learned that friendships handle pressure well.
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
Loyalty is essential in friendships. That person is not your yes-man or yes-woman, but they are one who wants to see you grow and get better in life. Some friends become brothers or sisters due to the way they withstood adversity with you. Some friends become defenders, fighting with you when moments get tough.
In Ecclesiastes 4:12, King Solomon talks about the necessity of not being alone: “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” When you’re by yourself, you can be overtaken, but when you’re in godly community, you have people who can support you, defend you, encourage you, check you, and so much more.
Remember what I said in previous posts: you are more than a conqueror through Christ. That means victory isn’t received in your own strength, and God can use people to help strengthen you to fight as well.
Yet, I want to give you an example of how certain communities may not be the best. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were together, yet both of them sinned because Eve was deceived and Adam did not intervene by stopping Eve from eating the fruit (Genesis 3:6).
Godly friends are there to warn you when danger arises and point you toward the right path. They help you grow in times of adversity.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
The role of a friend is something mighty: They bring their friends up when they’re struggling and encourage them to stay the course. God is encouraging me to be a good friend. It’s not easy all the time, but it’s worth it. If you have time, I encourage you to watch the sermon, which I’ll link below.
Let’s pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for friends and friendship. Help us to know the truth about friendship and to shine a light in our friendships. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
That’s all I have for today! Don’t forget you are loved, salty, and lit! Talk to you soon! 🧡
