"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
A Problem
We learned in MD5 that a man needs friends in their lives. In fact, it’s one of the essential things for a man to draw closer to God. But here is the problem with this call to action.
Men typically struggle with finding/making friends.
Men typically have surface level friends.
So, where do we go from here?
Start Here
Since we typically struggle with finding and/or making friends then I think we’ve identified the problem, us.
However, the good news is God knows what we need even before we ask Him. But that’s just it, we don’t really think to ask Him. At least I didn’t for so many years. I simply mourned the fact that my best friends from my childhood and college years didn’t live close to me.
I’m a firm believer that God will provide friends that are pursuing God with the same fervor you are if you ask Him. Praise God, it happened to me and it’s through MD5 that God identified them.
A Friend Filter
A friend that Proverbs 18:24 is talking about takes a Proverbs 12:26 approach. “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
We just covered this topic in our current cohort so it’s fresh for me. The definition of a true friend, according to the 33 series, is one that pushes us closer to Jesus. Not just a hunting or golfing partner.
Nothing wrong with doing those things, in fact they are pretty necessary. Men need “props” in friendship to help us connect on a deeper level. However, if hunting and golfing is the deepest it gets then we are spinning our wheels. So if you are choosing to spend a lot of time with someone be cautious and choose wisely.
Because God calls us to share the Gospel with unbelievers and encourage & instruct believers with the Gospel, which is called discipleship.
Re-focus
Here is the challenge.
Shift your focus from serving yourself to serving others. Look to be a life-giver and not a life-sucker. Or, be a friend that you would like to be friends with. True friendship is self-less and attractive to others.
Not sure where to start?
Read the Gospels and study how Jesus interacted with his closest family, friends and even His enemies. It will become very clear where to start.
Also, start attending MD5 Lab, there are men there waiting to pour into you and need you to pour into them.
Ryan Johnson
MD5 Facilitator