On Friends, In Brief

As everyone knows, certain things are necessary for life. Things such as air, water, and food are actually necessary conditions for being alive. And of course we all know that certain other things are necessary for proper functioning as a human being... or do we know? Things such as friends, purpose, and rest seem to sometimes not be treated as if they were as important as they actually are. And then for the Christian, of course, there is another set of things that are necessary for them to grow and have peace (let alone happiness). Do we understand worship, fellowship, spiritual disciplines, or giving? I know that many Christians do and are happy for it. Let us back up a moment, though, and think a little more about something that everyone needs.

Have you ever known someone who really did not have any friends? These people often stand out as different and odd and sad (if you notice them). They seem different, odd, and sad because they may be a big number, but they are not a big percentage. Most people have friends. There is nothing rare or unusual about having a friend. Most people have friends because it is excruciating to live without them. The vilest villain does not usually want to be alone. The bible speaks about the importance of choosing your friends wisely, in part, because G-d knows that it is not good for people to be alone. People realize that it is not good to be alone themselves and they will put not being alone above other considerations (that they might not ought to). They would most often prefer bad company to no company (for long periods, that is). Many people in the United States, for example, have never in their whole lives been 72 hours away from all contact with other people. People really do intuitively know that they need other people.

So if there is nothing rare or unusual about having a friend to talk to- and certainly nothing rare about wanting to have a friend to talk to... why then does the phrase "I feel like I have no one to talk to come across many people's lips?" My heart goes out to people who feel alone- but they would do well to remember the necessity of friends. It is not hard to get friends, but it is important to choose your friends wisely. Remember Proverbs 1:15 and Psalm 1:1.