An interesting email caught my eye on March 15. “On this day in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar died surrounded by friends. Unfortunately for him, his friends had daggers.” Following this eye-catching statement, the advertisement promoted fiction and nonfiction works about Julius Caesar. After some reflection, I noted the Bible addresses friendships by providing examples, instructions and warnings.
Examples
First Samuel 18:1-4 describes the beginning of a close friendship between David and Jonathan. The two remained steadfast friends despite knowing David would one day become king instead of Saul’s son, Jonathan (1 Samuel 23:16-17). The friendship even survived many attempts King Saul made on David’s life (1 Samuel 19:2; 20:17-23). After Jonathan’s death, David kept his promises to show kindness to Jonathan’s family (1 Samuel 20:14-16, 41-42; 2 Samuel 9).
Jesus had many friends. John 11 indicates Jesus shared a friendship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus (see also Luke 10:38). When Jesus met with Elijah and Moses at the transfiguration, He took with Him Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus took these same three a little farther into the Garden before He went even deeper into the Garden to pray (Matthew 26:36-46). On the cross, Jesus placed His mother into the care of John, “whom He loved” (John 19:26). Though Jesus loves everyone (John 3:16), these verses indicate He had a special friendship with some individuals while on earth.
Instructions
The Book of Proverbs provides many insights into friendships. Friends love or have affection for each other (17:17). They are friendly (18:24) and tell the truth even when it hurts (27:6). Friends can make each other better (27:17).
Similar sentiments also appear in the New Testament. Christians are instructed to show affection for each other and to prefer the company of other Christians (Acts 2:42-46; Romans 12:10). God’s children should display the qualities of kindness and forgiveness to others (Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12-13; 2 Peter 1:5-7). Additionally, Christians are to comfort and support each other (Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) while they “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). For other traits needed in friendships, search the New Testament for “one another” passages. Without such characteristics there can be no true friendship.
Warnings
God warned the Israelites against making covenants (friendships) with the idolatrous people of Canaan (Exodus 23:32; Deuteronomy 7:1-5). God forbade these relationships so His people would not be led into sinful practices (Exodus 23:33). However, the Israelites did not follow God’s commands and were led into idolatry (Judges 2:1-3, 11-13).
Other Scriptures warn against forming friendships with the ungodly. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26). “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Psalm 1:1 encourages God’s people to avoid the advice of the ungodly, and Exodus 23:2 forbids one to “follow a crowd to do evil.” First John 2:15-16 states, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” Those who make friends with the world make themselves enemies of God. “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Friends of the world wield daggers at the faithfulness of Christians.
With or Without Daggers?
The Bible describes Abraham as a “friend of God” (James 2:23; see also 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8). Exodus 33:11 declares that God spoke to Moses “as a man speaks to his friend.” Jesus stated that those who obey His commands are His friends (John 15:14), and John wrote that friends of God will overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5). True and lasting friendships have God and Christ at their center. Any other relationship is the equivalent of having “friends with daggers.” Choose your friends wisely.
