Friendship is a Sweet Fragrance to Your Soul

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

(1 Peter 1:18-20 NLT)

Friendship is a Sweet Fragrance to Your Soul

Priscilla grew up moving often as a result of her father’s career. Arriving at her new place of employment, she looked around. Her cubicle was sterile … quiet … alone. Similar to how she imagined her heart looked right now. She had no friendships in her new city, and she knew no one at her new company.

But this wasn’t new territory for her. She had navigated similar roads before. And she took comfort knowing God was with her, and He’s provided her with His wisdom for developing relationships in the book of Proverbs.

In our verse today we learn the earnest, deeply felt advice from a friend is like a sweet fragrance to our soul. We are never to abandon a friend. And the words either yours or your father’s communicates that God’s design for friendship spans generations. When the difficult challenges in life arise, it’s better to reach out to a close neighbor than a family member who lives far away. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

This verse is very practical and makes it clear that God designed you for friendships, fellowships and abiding relationships with others. Doing relationships your own way is hard, but with His wisdom and help, you can have extraordinary relationships with Him and with those He brings into your life.

Today’s One Thing

Ask God about your friendships today. Does He have changes He wants you to make to your current friendships? Are there new relationships He wants you to make?

Additional Reading

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