Mary Southerland tells us, " Friendship is the catalyst for every other love and the foundation of every healthy relationship.
God created us to need each other. We need friends and we need to be a friend.
Over the past few weeks, we have examined the friendship between Naomi and Ruth, a relationship that illustrates vital keys to a healthy relationship.
One of the most important friendship keys is loyalty. Ruth was loyal to Naomi.
God honored that loyalty and used it to attract her future husband, Boaz.
“Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before” (Ruth 2:11).
Boaz was struck by the loyalty of Ruth, realizing that she was the kind of woman he wanted to marry.
True friends are loyal and committed to each other.
Here are some ways to build loyalty into friendship.
God honored that loyalty and used it to attract her future husband, Boaz.
“Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before” (Ruth 2:11).
Boaz was struck by the loyalty of Ruth, realizing that she was the kind of woman he wanted to marry.
True friends are loyal and committed to each other.
Here are some ways to build loyalty into friendship.
- Don’t criticize friends to other people.
- Cheer at the successes of your friends.
- Encourage the strengths of your friends.
- Never use a friend’s weaknesses to your advantage.
- Overlook “cracks” in the armor and 'tilted' halos of friends.
Protect the heart of your friend by guarding your friendship with loyalty.
Let’s Pray:
Father, I know that I really do need friends but often let the fear of rejection keep me from reaching out in friendship. I choose against that fear right now. I want to please and honor You by the way I love my friends. Help me to become the kind of friend that points others to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Segments from I Need a Friend Part 5
by Mary Southerland www.girlfriendsingod.com Friend to Friend
Sept. 7, 2011
Read Ruth 1:16-18, NIV
“Thank God for you, good friend of mine,
Seldom is friendship such as thine;
How very much I wish to be
As helpful as you’ve been to me.” –Clark
Our Daily Bread
Aug. 17,’11
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