Friendship
August 30, 2022
Do you have a close friend? A person who has your best interests at heart, present in times of trouble?
In 1985 10% responded in a Stanford study that they had no one. In 2004, 26%. Has texting, Facebook, and twitter helped? Those tools don’t create close friends. In 2021 half had fewer that 3 close friends.
The word ‘friend’ in English Bibles has three different words in the original texts.
- Philos (noun) one who loves. Proverbs 17:9, 18:24
- Hetairos (noun) a comrade/companion/partner. Proverbs 18:24
- Peitho (verb) to persuade, influence Proverbs 14:20 (one who uses another for their interests)
One loves us, one is a buddy, and one a user. If you are blessed with a friend that loves you, treasure and protect that friendship.