“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.” Proverbs 27:10 (part 2)

Since we have been discussing meaningful friendships, it would be a good time to consider what a Christian should value in friendships. Think and pray over these lists and assess your own approach to friendships. It may be a time for you to reconsider with whom and how you associate, and it may provide an opportunity to restore some important relationships you have allowed to drift. The second list is much shorter than the first by design. Meaningful relationships are not comprised of a long set of superficial criteria.

Things that Shouldn’t Matter (but sometimes matter too much)

• Always make me feel happy
• Always make me feel special
• Usually affirm my thinking, plans, ideas
• Shared interests, hobbies
• Similar age
• Similar occupation
• Similar personalities
• Absence of conflict
• Absence of problems – They don’t complicate my life with their struggles.

Things that Matter a Lot (but sometimes don’t matter enough)