The Basis For A Close Friendship
We need close friends. Acquaintances are not good enough. All people long for close relationships. Of course, we need an intimate relationship with the person we marry. However, our lives are not as fulfilled unless we have some close friends, as well. It has been said that we are fortunate to have 5 or so really true friends. I don't want to put a number on it, but I want to explore what brings us to true friendship with another person.
We are to love everyone. We find some people we like. The real test is making a connection of the soul. That is rare, and I believe it is the key to a close friendship. Jonathan and David had that type of connection.(I Samuel 18:1) The soul of Jonathan was "knit" to the soul of David. How did that happen? Was it simply a feeling? It was not just a feeling. It happened because their souls were similar so they had a close bond.
The human soul is the mind, the will, and the emotions. It is who we are as a person. Therefore, we have a close friend when we come to know a person, who thinks like we do, who has convictions like ours, and who feels emotionally the way we do about life. It is kind of complicated, but you know it when it happens. As we hear the other person express their values and beliefs, it is as if we are talking ourselves. When we talk about making decisions in life with money, the family ,or the job, we find out we have made similar decisions. When we spend some time together we see that our emotions mess. We do not get on each others nerves. It makes for a fantastic relationship.
Because of this, we can't force close friendships to happen. Two people are either similar, or they are different. You can't require a person to fit your mold just because you want them to be your friend. You sense it in your soul when you meet them, and the more you communicate, the more your soul connections are confirmed. I pray that you will find as many close friends as possible for you, because I know how my close friends have blessed my life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 21-23.
We are to love everyone. We find some people we like. The real test is making a connection of the soul. That is rare, and I believe it is the key to a close friendship. Jonathan and David had that type of connection.(I Samuel 18:1) The soul of Jonathan was "knit" to the soul of David. How did that happen? Was it simply a feeling? It was not just a feeling. It happened because their souls were similar so they had a close bond.
The human soul is the mind, the will, and the emotions. It is who we are as a person. Therefore, we have a close friend when we come to know a person, who thinks like we do, who has convictions like ours, and who feels emotionally the way we do about life. It is kind of complicated, but you know it when it happens. As we hear the other person express their values and beliefs, it is as if we are talking ourselves. When we talk about making decisions in life with money, the family ,or the job, we find out we have made similar decisions. When we spend some time together we see that our emotions mess. We do not get on each others nerves. It makes for a fantastic relationship.
Because of this, we can't force close friendships to happen. Two people are either similar, or they are different. You can't require a person to fit your mold just because you want them to be your friend. You sense it in your soul when you meet them, and the more you communicate, the more your soul connections are confirmed. I pray that you will find as many close friends as possible for you, because I know how my close friends have blessed my life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 21-23.