Friendship

Delighting in the Lord

Posted on by BCI Step by Step

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psalms 37:4 KJV)

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There are three important events that people celebrate: Birth, Marriage, and Death. Someone said, “What about graduation?”, But I replied, “People do not celebrate graduation yearly, hahaha!” Therefore, we cannot say that marriage is a less important decision. There are many youth who enter into relationship without thinking of marriage. If you make a wrong decision, that will affect the course of your life. King Solomon gave some advice:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23 KJV)

Many young people follow their feelings and do not seek God’s will for their lives. The reason is that they easily trust in man or themselves more than God. The Bible says:

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5 KJV)

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
(Psalms 118:8 KJV)

If you truly trust God, you will obey God’s commandments and put a Christian standard in your relationship goals.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 KJV).

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.“
(1 Timothy 4:12 KJV)

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.“
(Proverbs 31:10 KJV)

If you truly trust God, you will seek God first, grow in Him, and trust that He will grant the desires of your heart. 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
(Psalms 37:4 KJV)

RELATED LESSONS:

Guard Your Heart

What does the Bible say about your heart?

Defining True Love

True Love

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Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV)

It is hard to prove a person’s love without proving his patience. The Bible says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17 KJV). That means a person who truly loves will always be loving even in adversity or difficult circumstances. This is the reason why many relationships do not succeed because they have mistaken lust for love. People say “Love is blind”. Soon when romance fades, they will be able to see each other’s weaknesses and undesireable character. One way to prove a person’s love is that he is willing to wait. Friendship is a good foundation for relationships. 

True love involves sacrifice, concern for another person’s welfare, growth, not self-seeking, nor taking advantage for selfish motives and fleshly satisfaction. A person who loves will not ruin your life or pull you down but rather lift and build you up.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

Christ demonstrated His love by His sacrifice. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

It is by knowing Christ that you will understand what is God’s love.  

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11 KJV)

If you focus on the wrong aspect, soon you will understand that it is just temporal but true love endures. 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:16-17 KJV)

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
(1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV)

Always put God first in your life and seek His best plan for you. 

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Psalms 27:14 KJV)

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psalms 37:4 KJV)

RELATED LESSONS:

Defining True Love

True Love Relationship

Why do you have to guard your heart

What does the Bible say about your heart?

Reasons for loving one another

The Greatest Gift that You Can Receive

Build Friendship on Solid Ground

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Pray for and with your friend

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(James 5:16 KJV)

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12 KJV)

Be patient and understanding of your friend’s shortcomings.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(Colossians 3:13-14 KJV)

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2 KJV)

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV)

Help your friend to grow

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV)

Share your meditations

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(Colossians 3:16 KJV)

Be a good testimony

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 KJV)

Protect from the wrong influence

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalms 1:1 KJV)

Participate in the ministry

I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. (1 Corinthians 16:15-16 KJV)

RELATED LESSONS:

Characteristics of a true friend

Friends in the ministry

Being Friendly

Posted on by BCI Step by Step

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)


Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

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No man is an island. Life is lonely without a friend. We are social beings, and we need to be sociable. Communication is important. A child learns first to communicate with his parents. Social maturity is the ability to relate well with others. Sociability is part of maturity. When a person grows spiritually mature, he also grows in many aspects of his life. A Christian can grow to be spiritually and socially mature in the church. 


A GOOD CHRISTIAN FRIEND IS A BLESSING FROM GOD.


A true friend loves at all times.


A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
(Proverbs 17:17 KJV)


A true friend builds you up.
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV)


A true friend can give you comfort and godly counsel
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
(Proverbs 27:9 KJV)


A true friend will sacrifice for you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13 KJV)


BENEFITS OF BEING FRIENDLY


It increases your friends.


A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
(Proverbs 18:24 KJV)


It helps increase your influence. 


And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV)


It helps you find growth opportunities. 


The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
(Proverbs 11:25 KJV)


It provides an opportunity to share the gospel. 


The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. (Matthew 11:19 KJV)


Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:19 KJV)

FIND FRIENDS TO WIN AND ENCOURAGE

You will be blessed and also encouraged

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
(Proverbs 11:25 KJV)

You will be wise and productive

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
(Proverbs 11:30 KJV)

The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
(Proverbs 11:18 KJV)

BE FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)

Be cheerful

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
(Proverbs 15:13 KJV)

Be interested in people

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
(Luke 6:31 KJV)

Be hospitable

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
(Hebrews 13:2 KJV)

Be prayerful

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10 KJV)

Be patient and loving

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV)

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
(Proverbs 17:17 KJV)


RELATED LESSONS


Characteristics of a true friend
Thank you for being a friend

Truth sometimes hurts but it is for good

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My attention was caught by a kitten who was trying to enter a fence made of cyclone wire. Her head got entangled by the wires. She just cried due to the pain and couldn’t get her head out. So, I tried to help her by twisting her head gently, though she might be hurt just to get her head out. 

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There is a saying, “Sometimes it takes pain to make us change our ways”. We are hesitant to speak the truth to a person we care for fear that she or he might get hurt. But if you love someone, you have to tell him or her what is right. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing. 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
(1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV)

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
(3 John 1:3-4 KJV)

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV)

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
(Proverbs 12:18 KJV)

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV)

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
(Ephesians 5:13-17 KJV)

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
(Proverbs 15:23 KJV)

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
(Ephesians 4:15-16 KJV)

Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
(Proverbs 15:10 KJV)

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
(Proverbs 15:12 KJV)

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:8-10 KJV)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(John 3:19-21 KJV)

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
(1 Timothy 6:3-4 KJV)

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
(Psalms 119:105 KJV)

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
(Proverbs 3:12 KJV)

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
(Job 5:17 KJV)

Related Quizzes

The dangers of pride

What benefits can you get out of your problems

Why does God allow people to suffer

What should we do in times of many problems

Chastisement and Trials

The hindrance to gaining a clear conscience

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!!!

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My prayer for you

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” — (Philippians 1:9-10)

My service, I will be writing more encouragement letters and quizzes for your spiritual growth. 

God bless your life’s journey in 2024! Happy New Year!!! 

Step One Lessons |  Step two Lessons

BCI Step-by-Step

director@biblecorrespondenceinstitute.com

Thank you for being friendly

Posted on by BCI Step by Step

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A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
(Proverbs 18:24 KJV)

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 KJV)

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

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