The Band of Brothers, The Sister Circle
We all have them, that one person or that group of people who we consider to be “best friends”. We might even refer to them as partner, sister, brother, homegirl/homeboy, ace, partner-in-crime, or ride or die. While we go through various life stages, seasons and chapters, our best friend(s) are those who have probably been right there with us through it all.
What elevates someone to “best friend” status? What have you experienced with someone that qualifies them to be given such a description? What situation or circumstance brought that person in your life to begin with? Why (out of all the people you’ve met throughout your life) did you choose to stick by the person you call your best friend?
We believe that having a best friend or group of close friends is much more than having someone to hang out with or talk to on occasion. To understand the importance of what it means to have a best friend, we should first look to God’s intent. The Bible makes more than 50 references to the word “friend” or “friendship”. During Jesus’ time on earth, He yearned to develop deep meaningful relationships with others, particularly His disciples. What’s more, He came to earth so we might enjoy not only life but a relationship with the Father. So, it should come as no surprise that God is a relational God. God’s desire has always been for us to enter and enjoy intimate friendships and fellowship with one another.
In our friendships, we benefit from being around like-minded people with the same spiritual outlook and life perspective that can challenge us to be a better version of ourselves. We open ourselves up to be held accountable to one another in all aspects. In these friendships, we have an obligation to provide honest feedback and speak to our friends in truth and love when we see them going wayward. Our friendships with a best friend or best friends should provide us with a safe space to be our authentic selves where we are exposed with all our faults and shortcomings yet loved and valued regardless.
We must never forget that a best friend will bear your burdens and cheerlead your accomplishments. A best friend will fight with you, for you and against you if it means saving your soul. Best friends don’t just happen, they should be regarded as blessings from God and just like many blessings, those special friendships must be cultivated over time and repeatedly forged throughout life experiences.
We encourage you to read and meditate on the following Bible verses and think about what it means to you to have a best friend or best friends in your life. Afterwards, we challenge you to reach out to that person or those persons and share this blog entry.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 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.
Job 2:11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.
Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.