Making friends in life is no walk in the park and it’s certainly not any easier when it comes to making friends in church. If you are that person who is struggling, you’re most likely thinking A) these people aren’t my cup of tea or B) these people don’t see me.
Let’s digest point A first.
Why is it that you’re in church (I’ll let you answer) ….? Ok and so the friends you currently have, do you believe that these people are going to help you with this? If your answer is no then we need to give the people in church a chance. Why? Because we all have a common ground in Christ and that is the direction we are headed. Who else to help get you there than someone who is also on the same journey!
The friends you have, do you believe they’ll make it to heaven? Would God approve of your friendships? As we seek heaven as our home ultimately does it matter that the people in church aren’t the kind of friends we’d usually choose? Or as we seek heaven as our home wouldn’t we prefer friends that will pray for us, help us when we’re battling and encourage us to fight the good fight. When the bible talks about being unequally yoked, it symbolises Jesus being able to carry you when you can’t carry yourself. Is this not what we want in a friend?
Not everyone in your church is going to be your friend, but it’s imperative for your journey to have a brother or sister help you on your journey with wisdom and so much more.
The more you find yourself getting involved in church you find that your lifestyle changes and you realise life is more about what you need not what you want. As you evolve as a disciple you’ll realise the people that were once not your sort of crowd are now key pillars in your walk of faith. Not because they’re the funniest person or best dressed, but because no matter what you are going through, they are able to point you towards Christ.
Now for those that struggle with point B.
If you feel you’re struggling to make friends in church because you’re going un-noticed, then maybe you’re not noticeable. By that I mean are you the first to run off after service, do you sit in the corner on your phone with a constant ‘do not disturb sign’ on your face? You’re going to need make yourself more available. Hang around after service, speak to people and get involved in fellowships. Give people a chance. That’s all it takes.
Ecclesiastes 4:10
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Proverbs 18:24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
2 Corinthians 6
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Proverbs 13:20
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 12:26
The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
James 4:4
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
5 Proverbs 22:
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
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