“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40.
Good friends are valuable for many reasons, one being that they help to prevent isolation and loneliness while increasing our sense of belonging and purpose. Jesus is the perfect example of what a friend should look like; in fact, he is the perfect example of a best friend. As children get older, their friends may have more influence on them than we do, making it a top priority to teach them about friendship.
During this episode, Lee Ann connects five suggestions with occurrences from the Bible about Jesus and friendship:
- We must first model Christlike characteristics for our children to mirror. Let them see you exhibiting those characteristics and show them what we expect from a friend (John 15:15 & Luke 6:31).
- We can help our children understand the importance of staying away from those who seem like a friend but have ulterior motives (Proverbs 12:26 & Proverbs 20:11). Help them make a list of some of the characteristics they think a good or bad friend should have, and go over your list with them, so hopefully they’ll be more equipped to spot false friendships in the future.
- Help your child understand that a friend can come from many backgrounds and colors; everyone is made in God’s image and deserves love, respect, and the opportunity to become our friend (Genesis 1:27 & James 2:1-4).
- Introduce biblical terms such as the good Samaritan, and read the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Remind them that we should forgive 77 X 7 (Matthew 18:21-22).
- Read the sections in the Old Testament that talk about the brotherly love between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6 & 1 Samuel 17:39) to help with sibling conflict, as we all hope our children stay close throughout their lives.
Resources mentioned:
- “Choose Your Friends Wisely,” by Douglas Talks.
- “Teaching Friendship to Our Children, by David Padfield.
- “25 Important Bible Verses About Fake Friends,” by Fritz Chery.
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