This is not good...

"The Lord God said,

'It is not good for the man to be alone…” '

Genesis 2:18

This is Crucial

God made us to be social. The creation account is very clear that we need companionship. Obviously, the first need for companionship was Eve for Adam. Thank God for meeting that need! But God knows that we cannot go through life alone and he created us to seek out friends. Without some social connections, we feel isolated, alone, and often depressed. Those in authority often use isolation as a very effective form of punishment from a simple “time-out” to solitary confinement in the prison system. Simply put, God designed us to be social.  

Different Levels but the Same Need

Our social needs depend on our personality type; some need more social time than others. No matter what your social quota might be, you need…you must continue to make friends and maintain friendships.  

In our MD5 curriculum we talk about providential friendships; those friends that God puts in our path as we go through life to give us direction and make our faith strong. All throughout our life many people will cross our path, and we must discern whether they will build us up or tear us down.  

A Biblical Approach to Friendship

A good way to discern if a friendship is worth keeping is if both of you are feeling encouraged and growing closer to the Lord because of it.

As Proverbs 27:17 says,

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

When you spend time with that person/friend, do you feel uplifted and emboldened in the spirit, or do you feel more in the flesh? Another way for discernment is the trust you have in them to be vulnerable and share personal things in your life. True friends know each other’s personal life situations and can provide support and encouragement.   

Prayer is the Key

We are called to seek friendships that are genuine and centered on God’s word. We should pray for discernment to weed out any friendships that are not glorifying to God and intentionally seek friends that are edifying. In an answer to our prayer, God will providentially provide the social connections to bring him glory.  

Jeff Riddle

MD5 Facilitator