How to Maintain Friendship According to the Bible

1/14/2017 101 Comments


From: Ana

Email: megumi3007@yahoo.com

How can we maintain a friendship according to the Bible?

Dear Ana,

In this world, the only thing permanent is change (thus, the saying goes). Maintaining friendship with anybody entails a lot of guts, patience, and understanding. It is almost impossible to have a permanent friend in human society today. But what is impossible under human standards is possible with God.

When I was in elementary school, I have learned a proverb that says: “Make new friends, but don’t forget the old; for new ones are silver, and the old ones are gold.” Biblically speaking, friends can be part of the inheritance from fathers.

Proverbs 27:10 
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.

But how can we preserve friendship? We must know whom to befriend and the factors that will destroy the friendship! The God of the Bible defines for us a true friend.

Proverbs 18:24 (RSV) 
There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

The closeness of a true friend is enduring.

Proverbs 17:17 
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A true friend’s criticism may hurt, but it is a sign of a true friend.

Proverbs 27:6 
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

I have been following these examples set by the Bible regarding friendship. But those who do not understand—when I speak with frankness and truthfulness, with the intention to correct a beloved friend—sometimes, they turn to be bitter enemies. If only people can see the heart, I should have made more friends than enemies. It happened to the Apostles of Christ.

Galatians 4:16-17 (NIV) 
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 

There is a Spanish proverb that says, “El enemigo peor es él que era una vez un amigo” (The worst enemy is he who was once a friend). Beware! Do not make enemies out of friends, but make friends out of enemies.

1 Corinthians 9:20-22 
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Beware, also, of the words of a talebearer!

Proverbs 16:28 
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

If you want to maintain friendship, apply to yourself the virtues and values of a true friend. Do not expect it from your friend alone, it must be symbiotic. Jesus taught His disciples the greatest friendship attainable among human beings.

John 15:13-15 
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

The disciples of Christ applied this friendship among brethren.

3 John 1:14 
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Enduring friendship is attainable in the Church of God. Jesus and His disciples are the best of friends anybody can have.

God Bless,

Bro. Eli Soriano

101 comments:

  1. We always need a true friend and the Best Friend we can ever have is Christ.

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  2. ang galing ng sagot, Biblical! di gaya ng payo ng iba...

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  3. Friendship goals!!! ❤
    Thanks to God for this, Bro Eli!

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  4. Thanks be to GOD, WISDOM FROM GOD,

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  5. A friend loveth at all times. Thanks be unto God!

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  6. Thanks be to God for this wonderful blog. Reminds me to choose the right friend for me. A friend who I can rely on wether its good and if bad she always leads mo to wisdom of God.

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  7. True friend inside true church..
    Amen

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  8. A heard Mr. Bergado-PADPAO president, "I gave money in exchange for friendship". Thus, he got trusted friends. The lord Jesus did not just money but even his very own life. Congrats to thsi article!

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  9. May God help our fellowmen to find a true friend in this world through the aide of the Bible & His men.

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  10. A GOOD FRIEND is A GIFT from GOD that must be TREASURED. CHRIST is one of them . Thanks be to God! :)

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  11. Let's not worry if we don't have much friends outside the church of GOD as long as we don't lose the friendship of our Lord. This is very important. To be friend with our Lord is to follow his words until the end.

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  12. Amen. Thanks be to GOD for this article.

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  13. Thank you for this blog, Mr. Controversy :) Really taught me how to keep my friends closer.

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  14. Ang tunay na kaibigan kayang magsakripisyo at masaktan para sa ikabubuti ng kanyang kaibigan.

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  15. True. It should be symbiotic. Unless it wouldn't work. Based from my own experience.

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  16. Amen. True friend can only be found inside the true church. Thanks be to God. Every blog is worth a read.

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  17. I would rather have a friend who will speak hurtful truth to correct and reprimand me than someone who flatters and speak with lies just to please my ego.

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  18. Thanks be to God! Now i know what to maintain to have a good friendship. And now i know to whom should i be friend of. #friendshipgoals 😍😍

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  19. In this world where deception is abundant, we can still find real, sincere friends in the Bible, in the persons of Jesus Christ and the Father. The guided prophets wrote warnings and teachings about friends. In Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. This makes me realize one of my preference in life: I would rather have a friend who will speak hurtful truths to correct and reprimand me than the one who will flatter me with lies just to please my ego. Salamat po sa Dios, Brother Eli for writing and publishing this blog.

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  20. "What is impossible under human standards is possible with God." indeed.

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. When You need a friend that you can defend.

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  23. Thanks be to God for the understanding!

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  24. 3John 1:14 But i trust i shall shortly see thee,and we speak face to face.Peace be to thee.Our friends salute thee.Greet the friends by name.To God be the glory!

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  25. Salamat sa Dios sa mga kaibigang galing sa Dios!

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  26. enduring friendship is here! at the Church of God!

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  27. Enduring friendship is attainable inside the church of God. " Thanks be to God for another wonderful blog.=)

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  28. Better friends were the ones who befriended to Christ. Thanks be to God!

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  29. True friendship is attainable with endurance. To God be the glory!

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  30. I can now proudly say that I do have a best friend! Amen. ❤

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  31. "The sign of a true friend". Thanks be to God for this blog, now I knew how to be a good friend to others too.. thanks Mr. ControversyX

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  32. Brief and straightforward blog... very nice!

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  33. Thanks be to God for another good read which also serves as a reminder to us all. Its hard to really find and maintain friendship nowadays,but the Bible is alwaya there to guide us and assist us in keeping friendship intact.

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  34. Kawikaan 27:6
    Tapat ang mga sugat ng kaibigan: Nguni’t ang mga halik ng kaaway ay magdaraya.

    Kapag pinagwiwikaan tayo ng sinoman dahil sa ating mga kamalian, mangagalak sana tayo sa halip na malumbay.

    #BestFriendsAnybodyCanHave

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  35. Ang ganda po ng blog nyo brd eli,,,salamat po sa Dios

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  36. Ang ganda po ng blog nyo brd eli,,ito dun po ay aking alalahanin dahil sa aking mga mahala na kaibigan,,,,salamat po sa Dios at may natutunan ako sa blog na ito...

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  37. Jesus is a man's best friend. It is important to choose your friend wisely, it reflects of who you are. Friends can easily influence our life. We can pray to God for a true friendship, once he give it, its like you found a gold that you can cherished.

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  38. Ang Dios ang pinakamabuting Kaibigan.John 15:13-15
    #BestFriendsAnybodyCanHave

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  39. Thanks be to God for this meaningful and wonderful blog.
    To God be the Glory!!

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  40. ' love this article ❤ Indeed, the bible is the best guide in any aspect of life.
    #choosingfriends
    #keepingtruefriends

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  41. Christ is our true friend. He sets the perfect example of friendship, all we have to do is do whatever He had showed us and taught us.
    Amen to this article of Brother Eli.
    to God be the Glory!

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  42. I found a Bestfriend he is best of all best.

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  43. According to Mr. Controversy, a true friend’s criticism may hurt, but it is a sign of a true friend. It's true, because false friends have no care for you.

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  44. Proverbs 17:17
    A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
    Thanks be to god 😊

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  45. Glad to have read this. I need this. Thx Ana, Bro. Eli.

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  46. Thanks be to God for a very informative and sensible blog.

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  47. Beware, also, of the words of a talebearer!

    Proverbs 16:28
    A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
    Thanks be to GOD for this blog.

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  48. Don't be equally yoke with the way our friends do. Our boundaries are set to the doctrines of Christ. Let us be sensitive to the actions of the words of GOD within us. These are our guide when we're with our worldly friends and families. His teachings first and foremost. Let's not loose this mark of our salvation.

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  49. Do not make enemies out of friends, but make friends out of enemies.
    NOTED!
    Thanks be to God, Bro. Eli for sharing this wonderful wisdom frm the Bible.

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  50. "A friend loveth at all times"

    "Faithful are the wounds of a friend"

    Thanks be to God...

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  51. Lord Jesus is my friend. Thanks be to God. 🙂 💝

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  52. There are friends who are more than a family. A blessing indeed

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  53. Thanks be unto God for this beautiful message and for guiding us. i treasured a lot my friends inside the church. we love you Bro. Eli

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  54. A true friend can never be bought with money a true friends are God's gift also to God be the glory forever

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  55. Thanks be to GOD ! wisdom from GOD.

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  56. Salamat sa Dios sa kapalarang nasumpungan

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  57. Oh what a friend I have in JESUS!Thanks be to GOD for having Bro.ELi in our midst.

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  58. I just remember and recalled this song:

    We used to be frightened and scared to try
    Of things we don't really understand why
    We laugh for a moment and start to cry
    We were crazy

    Now that the end is already here
    We reminisce 'bout old yells and cheers
    Even if our last hurrahs were never clear

    Farewell to you my friends
    We'll see each other again
    Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of everything
    I may be miles away
    But here is where my heart will stay
    With you, my friends with you

    Yesterday's a treasure, today is here
    Tomorrows' on its way, the sky is clear
    Thank you for the mem'ries of all the laughters and tears
    And not to mention our doubts and our fears
    The hypertension we gave to our peers
    It's really funny to look back after all of these years

    Farewell to you my friends
    We'll see each other again
    Don't worry 'cause it's not the end of everything
    I may be miles away
    But here is where my heart will stay
    With you, my friends with you

    Farewell to you my friends
    We'll see each other again
    Don't worry 'cause it's not the end of everything
    I may be oceans away
    But here is where my heart will stay
    With you, my friends with you
    With you, my friends with only you

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  59. The real good news comes from a real good friend...hehehe

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  60. Growing up for me and looking for a true best friend...none that i found until i met Jesus thru Bro. Eli...and wow...what a wonderful friend...Jesus Christ...hehehe

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  61. Glory to God for this wisdom in how to keep our friend in the biblical way though by our lord Jesus Christ...

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  62. man as a friend is temporal...Jesus as a friend is eternal..

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  63. Our FATHER in Heaven our LORD JESUS CHRIST is our true friend... We loved you brother Eli! To GOD be the glory!

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  64. We may have many friends here on earth, but there is only one BEST friend we can have - CHRIST.

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  65. Very Inspiring.. Thanks be to God!

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  66. Real friends will tell you the truth for your own good. Those are the ones you should keep. Thankful to GOD for this well-written blog!

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  67. When I was in elementary school, I have learned a proverb that says: “Make new friends, but don’t forget the old; for new ones are silver, and the old ones are gold.” Biblically speaking, friends can be part of the inheritance from fathers.

    Bro Eli Soriano

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  68. let us learn to forgive our so called friend though he/she took advantage of us and even hurting us down deep inside...to err is human...to forgive devine...hehehehe

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  69. To maintain friendship, the parties involved should have the qualities, values and virtues of a true friend and these qualities, values, and virtues should be shared among friends symbiotically. Friendship will not last long if any one of the parties is not worthy to be called a true and genuine friend. Thanks be to God!

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  70. ...the basic secret to maintain a good friend is to trust...dressed with the true essence of love ...

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  71. ...a true scenario: i looked and looked and looked and all these years my true friends have come and gone...then Bro. Eli showed me...the bible...what a friend!!!

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  72. Mi ser se deleita con este blog. Gracias Dios, por todos tus sabidurías.

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  73. First, there are various types of friendship with reference to time or timing. Every genuine friendship is a timely relationship. As such, a friendship can be seasonal, temporary, or permanent.
    Houston escorts

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  74. Proverbs 17:17
    A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

    Thanks be to God!

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  75. True friends are those who accept you as who and what you are. Friends do not tell you what you are suppose to be to them to accept you as your friend.

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  76. Lough, and the world loughs with you; cry, and you cry alone, only true friends remains with you.

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  77. When all else fails Jesus is the only friend you will have and you’ll never be alone. He fills your heart with love and peace. And when its filled then you find yourself sharing that love to your friends on earth no matter how hard life is as we are only human at all - we strive to achieve a symbiotic relationship in Gods grace! #friendshipgoals ❤️

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  78. "If you want to maintain friendship, apply to yourself the virtues and values of a true friend. Do not expect it from your friend alone, it must be symbiotic." <3

    Thanks be to God!

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  79. ang tunay na kaibigan ay ang mga kapatid sa Iglesia~😊

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