Romans: Fruitful Faith-Family Friendships

The greatest friend that you will ever have is Jesus.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.John 15:13-14

Faithful friends use their words to edify.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.Ephesians 4:29

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.Colossians 4:6

Faithful friends frequently pray for their friends.

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,Philippians 1:4

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;Colossians 1:9-10

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;1 Thessalonians 1:2

Paul prayed for them and let them know it.

Faithful friends make time for fellowship.

Mature Christians recognize the importance of community and fellowship.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.Hebrews 10:24-25

Our fellowship with other Christians is based on our relationship with Jesus.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.1 John 1:3

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.1 John 1:7

Faithful friends help others get stronger.

A mature Christian will always have a non-believer or a new believer that they are trying to challenge to pursue Jesus.

A mature Christian will always have a relationship with another Christian who they can learn from.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.Proverbs 27:6

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

Faithful friends are comforted together by their faith.

We find comfort in the Word. We find comfort in prayer. We find comfort in the testimony of others.

Faithful friends make time for one another.

Friendship requires sacrifice.

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

Friendship requires selflessness.

If you want fruitful, faithful friends, show yourself friendly.

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

If you want fruitful, faithful friends, it requires an investment.

He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.Proverbs 22:11

You get out what you put in.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.2 Corinthians 9:6

It requires a level of vulnerability.

If you want fruitful, faithful friends, you take the good and the bad.

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

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Romans 12:15