“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly…” (Prov. 18:24)
Jesus was a friendly person. In fact, He had such loving disposition that even children felt comfortable coming up to Him. Here are four thoughts about how to make friends and build better relationships with others.
FIRST—Accept yourself.
That doesn’t mean you believe that you are all you want to be or should be. It simply means that you see yourself as a worthwhile person, created by God, redeemed by God, and precious to God.
The reason peer pressure has such a strong influence in some people’s lives is because they feel that they are only worth something if that other friend likes them. When you see yourself as valuable, because GOD says you are, then the threat of losing a friend won’t bother you.
SECOND—See the value in everyone.
One reason people were attracted to Jesus was that He valued them. He did not consider any person to be unimportant. He saw every person as a special creation of God and therefore precious to Him.
THIRD—Be friendly and show God’s love to everyone.
Love is the foundation upon which friendships are built. Since we know God loves everyone, we should too. Our friendliness opens the door for our witness.
FOURTH—Show an interest in others.
You will make more friends just by showing a genuine interest in them than you will trying to get them interested in you. By the way, this is the secret to overcoming being an introvert! If you want to get people talking, just ask them about their family, their job, or their hobbies. And if you want to get a grandparent REALLY talking, just ask them about their grandchildren!
There it is. Four things that can help you make new friends and build better relationships with those around you.