Biblical Friendship: Part 2

This powerful exploration of biblical friendship challenges us to examine the quality and depth of our relationships through the lens of Scripture. Drawing from the Proverbs and the stories of David, Jonathan, and Nathan, we're reminded that true spiritual friendship is built on a common love for God and His kingdom. The message confronts us with a sobering reality: our friendships have directional power in our lives. As Proverbs 13:20 warns, 'He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.' We see this truth play out tragically in the story of Amnon, whose wicked friend Jonadab encouraged him toward sexual assault, setting off a cascade of disasters that included murder, civil war, and the death of thousands. Conversely, we witness the beauty of Nathan's faithful friendship to David—risking his own safety to confront the king about his sin with Bathsheba. Nathan didn't come in judgment but in love, skillfully engaging David's heart through a story that revealed his hypocrisy. This teaches us that being a great friend requires wisdom: the ability to discern the condition of someone's heart and apply God's truth like medicine to their soul. We must learn to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, speaking words 'fitly spoken' that build up and give grace. The ultimate question posed to us is this: Are we humble enough to have great friends? Can we care more about holiness than looking good, more about God's grace than saving face? And do we recognize that Jesus is the greatest friend we could ever have—the one who loved us enough to tell us the truth about our sin and then gave His life to save us from it?