Scripture: Colossians 4:7-18
Friendships help your physical, mental, and emotional health. I’m going to quickly share what the Mayo Clinic found about having friends. We will look at several verses in the wisdom books about friends. And then we will see who some of Paul’s friends were as he closed out the letter to the church in Colossae.
The Mayo Clinic says friendships have a major impact on your health and well-being.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860
- Increase your sense of belonging and purpose
- Boost your happiness and reduce your stress
- Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
- Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one
- Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise
- Reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index
God’s Word gives us encouragement and warnings about friendships.
- Proverbs 18:24
- Proverbs 13:20
- Proverbs 17:17
- Proverbs 27:5-6
- Proverbs 27:17
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Paul’s Top Ten
Ten specific people were named in Paul’s closing of the letter to the Colossians. These are people whose names are being remembered and discussed almost two thousand years later. After talking a bit about each of them, I will wrap up with some lessons we can learn from Paul and his friends. Listen for qualities you need to develop or look for in your friendships.
Twenty-One Qualities to develop & look for in your friendships.
- Servant’s heart
- Willing to go anywhere, do anything
- Dependable
- Faithful
- Mediator – get messy to help solve problems
- Willing to humbly take correction and instruction
- Give people a chance
- Make room for new friends
- Through thick or thin
- Sympathetic Heart
- Stick with friends through ups & downs of life & ministry
- Prayer Warrior
- Willing to forgive a friend
- Compassionate & Caring
- Brag about your friends!
- Be there when you are needed
- Care about your friend’s faith
- Hospitable
- Welcoming
- Willing to fight for your friend
- Show God’s Grace – kindness & patience especially when it is not deserved
