Steps to friendship

'A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' Proverbs 18:24

Everyone needs at least a small circle of friends. The first step to friendship is 'be friendly'.

'A man who has friends must himself be friendly.' You should not, however, become friendly just in order to gain a friend. This is an unhelpful motive because you are more interested in gaining a friend than being a friend. Self-centredness will get you nowhere.

Friendliness is tha art of going out of yourself and appreciating others as much as you appreciate yourself. It is really a mind-set, an attitude. The main reason why some people have no friends is because they demonstrate an unfriendly attitude. To have a friend - be one.

The second step to friendship is to 'allow time for friendship to develop.' In friendship, it is futile to try to force doors open. Instead, be like Christ in the book of Revelation (Rev, 3:20); stand reverently at the door - and knock. Only if the door is opened from within should you go through it.

Some relationships you have with people may never develop into close friendships. Don't be upset about it. If you are open and friendly, then God will guide you and show you where deep frinedships are to be developed.

Father, help me be a friend who does the knocking before i enter instead of knocking down after i have left. And show me not only how to sympathise with my friends' weaknesses, but how to draw out their strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.