Friendship| Teenagers| Good Friend Qualities| Ministry for Teenage Girls

By the time you finish high school, you will hear many quotes about friends and friendship. Some that I’ve seen at my school are:

“You are who you hang around.”

“Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.”

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
– Jim Rohn

Having a good friend or two is CRUCIAL at any age but especially in your teenage years. At your developmental stage, acceptance into a peer group proves a top biological priority whether you realize it or not.

Bible verses about good friends

Proverbs is one of my go to books because everything is easily explainable and easy to understand. This book has quite a bit to say about friends:

Proverbs 12:26– The righteous choose their friends carefully…

Proverbs 13:20- Walk with the wise and become wise for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 24:1-2– Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

Proverbs 22:24– Do not make friends with a hot tempered person. Do not associate with one easily angered.

Proverbs 27:17– Just as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

So what’s the take away? Choose carefully who to be friends with because the more time you spend together, the more you will be like them. God wants our friends to sharpen us in a positive way.

4 Qualities of a Good Friend

1)They will positively affect your life.

They are not the conductor of the drama train and do not add stress to your life. They make time for the friendship and bring happiness to your life. This can manifest itself in various ways, but being around them will help lift you up and make you better.

2)They will draw you toward and not away from God

No friend you have should EVER try to get you to do anything that is outside of God’s word. They should never convince you to go to a party, sneak out, drink underage, or ANYTHING. The way they live their life should inspire you in your walk with God.

For example, if they’re going through a hard time, they don’t blame God for their problems. They praise Him in the storm and that will sharpen you to do the same when you are in their situation.

3)They will exhibit the fruits of the spirit

OK, don’t check out on me. Do you know what the fruits of the spirit are? Just in case you don’t…here they are!

love
joy,
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

[Galatians 5:22-23].

Any friend so exhibit at least the majority of these characteristics. I mean, who wouldn’t want a friend like this?!

4)They will not take advantage of you or be a “frienemy”

Any relationship should have a healthy dose of give and take. If you feel like you’re always giving, you need to keep that person at a distance. If they always leave you when someone more popular wants to be their friend for a while [BEEN THERE], and then they end up coming back when that person is done with them, you may want to reevaluate the relationship.

In Closing

Friends are an important part of life and it is important to have good ones. If you feel like you need a good friend, pray for one! Seriously! God wants us to surround ourselves with good people and He will send them to you if you ask.

Until next time,

Sarah

P.S. In our book, So, You Think You’re Ready to Date? we discuss why having good friends is important when it comes to dating relationships. If the topic of teenage dating interests you, click the graphic to learn more!