# 1 _Some people prefer to be alone. But most want to be around other people. Relationships and associations are important to them. They desire to have and maintain friendships. Friendship is part of God's way of life. His Word has much to say about friendship. In fact, God Himself strongly emphasizes His desire for relationships and friendships. Jesus Christ, who is one in mind and Spirit with the Father, will marry the Church. This implies an extremely close relationship as well as a friendship. A major underpinning in God's plan is healthy, strong, close relationships.
# 2 - The Scriptures refer to Abraham and Moses as friends of God (EXODUS 33:11; James 2:23). Jesus had close friends. Though the disciples were His closest friends, He had friendly relationships with others, including tax collectors. For this He was soundly condemned by others (MATTHEW 11:19). One of the tax collectors, Matthew, even became a disciple (MATTHEW 9:9__13).
# 3 - These example illustrate that is not wong to have friends who are not Christian. John, another disciple and a close friend of Jesus, described the danger we must keep in mind: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world__the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life__ is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 JOHN 2:15__17).
# 4 - We must maintain a proper balance. We are to help people in the world__in society__without becoming part of the way of life of the world. Among the disciples, the Savior apparently felt especially close to John. He even commissioned this disciple to care for His mother, Mary, after His death. Although Jesus was a friend to many, He appears to have felt a special affinity for John.
# 4 - John's epistles dwell on love as a major theme. Since God is love and the Son if God is like His Father (HEBREWS 1:3), this may by why Jesus felt a special affinity for John. Following Christ's example, we can see that it's not wrong for us to have close friends as long as they do not prevent us from helping others and having a positive relationship with them. People can be so much more effective, so much more balanced and so much wiser as a result of developing and maintaining healthy friendships. The Word of God supports this approach. The book of Proverbs is rife with wise sayings on aspects of friendship. Proverbs focuses on the importance of developing friendships based on the right reason. For example, Proverbs 19:4__6 tells us: "Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend . . . Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts."
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