Selwyn continues to discuss the steps needed to be taken, in order to cultivate friends.
He says: “The third step is be prepared to be vulnerable … to be hurt … no relationship is free from pain this side of eternity. … Fourth, love your friend enough to talk with him or her about anything you feel is not (spiritually) right.… ask yourself: Am I prepared to lose this friendship in the interests of God’s kingdom? If not then you haven’t got a true (Christian) friendship. You are in it for your own reasons, not God’s. … Fifth, allow your friend to have other friends also. Don’t suffocate your friend by being possessive and demanding that he or she maintain just your friendship and no one else’s.”
Most of the above is intuitive for many of us – basically, words of wisdom that would benefit anyone.
I’ll repeat what I’ve been saying for the past few days – take this issue, to God, in prayer. Allow Him to direct you, in regard to the friendships you make, keep in mind that you are developing relationship that can last for eternity. Plus, remember that any faults, that you may (correctly or incorrectly) see in your friend, will be erased when they reach heaven – they will be perfect, as you will be - and, hence become perfect friends. No isn’t that something upon which we should seek God’s advice?
When not a true friend
Selwyn continues to discuss the steps needed to be taken, in order to cultivate friends.
He says: “The third step is be prepared to be vulnerable … to be hurt … no relationship is free from pain this side of eternity. … Fourth, love your friend enough to talk with him or her about anything you feel is not (spiritually) right.… ask yourself: Am I prepared to lose this friendship in the interests of God’s kingdom? If not then you haven’t got a true (Christian) friendship. You are in it for your own reasons, not God’s. … Fifth, allow your friend to have other friends also. Don’t suffocate your friend by being possessive and demanding that he or she maintain just your friendship and no one else’s.”
Most of the above is intuitive for many of us – basically, words of wisdom that would benefit anyone.
I’ll repeat what I’ve been saying for the past few days – take this issue, to God, in prayer. Allow Him to direct you, in regard to the friendships you make, keep in mind that you are developing relationship that can last for eternity. Plus, remember that any faults, that you may (correctly or incorrectly) see in your friend, will be erased when they reach heaven – they will be perfect, as you will be - and, hence become perfect friends. No isn’t that something upon which we should seek God’s advice?