1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Proverbs on Friendship, Part 1 Selected Proverbs
If we are to be good friends and have good friendships, then we will be wise to pay attention Proverbs

3. Levels of Friendship
The Hebrew reya’ (ray’ah) is translated as both friend and neighbor
Friendships should be able to be developed with those living nearby
We are limited in our friendships by distance, time and mental and emotional capacities

4. Levels of Friendship
The Multitudes
The many people you intersect with during the course of living but do not know
Jesus ministered to them – Matt. 4:25
Capacity: hundreds to thousands

5. Levels of Friendship
Acquaintances
people you only know basic information about
The man born blind (John 9), the woman at the well (John 4)
Capacity: most people:

6. Levels of Friendship
Casual Friend
some general knowledge about them and trust enough to talk about some personal issues
Nicodemus (John 3), The Seventy disciples (Luke 10)
Capacity: 20 – 100+ active

7. Levels of Friendship
Close friend –
specific knowledge, mutual trust allowing vulnerability, sharing of thoughts & emotions
Close associate - arise from interaction at groups - church, work, hobby clubs, etc.

8. Levels of Friendship
Close friend –
Close personal friends - relationships maintained over the years by mutual choice
Mentor - a teacher / disciple relationship
Lazarus, Mary, Martha / the Apostles
Capacity: active, 30+ inactive

9. Levels of Friendship
Intimate (best) Friend –
quality friendship that has been tested and proven loyal, greatest vulnerability
Peter, James & John
Capacity: 1-6, average is four

10. Levels of Friendship
People can move up and down the scale of the levels of friendship

11. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
Legitimate reasons for short periods of isolation include:
Prayer – Mark 1:35
Contamination – Leviticus 13
Calming down – Prov. 29:22; Eph. 4
Proverbs 18:1

12. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
Most cases of isolation are motivated by selfishness which is also contrary to sound wisdom
People can even be gregarious and still keep themselves emotionally isolated with shallow relationships

13. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
Pain from the past and fear of pain in the future are the most common reasons people isolate themselves
Isolation cuts people off from God’s normal means of proclaiming the truth and being encouraged

14. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
A Christian that isolates Himself cuts himself off from God’s design from the body life of the church
We are compassionate toward those who have been hurt, but we expect pain in a sinful and cursed world

15. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
We should expect that people will eventually disappoint us – Prov. 20:6
Man has caused pain to other men from the beginning - Cain and Abel, etc.
We will have tribulation in this world (John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12), but are blest in the midst of it (Matt. 5:11-12)

16. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
God’s plan is for us to cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7), pray and have His peace (Phil. 4:6-7), and grow to maturity (Rom. 5, James 1)
We don’t seek pain, but we are not afraid of it because we trust God in all circumstances

17. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
Expediency elevates human wisdom above God’s and is a poor excuse for isolation
God controls the future of a man, not the man himself - Proverbs 16:9; 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23

18. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
Pride is also a cause of isolation and a host of other problems - Proverbs 16:5, 18; James 4:6
The proud separate themselves from those they consider beneath them and so become isolated from a large portion of population that is wise - Proverbs 11:2

19. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
God’s people are called from out of every wealth class, social strata and education level
The proud poor refuse friendship with those outside their own circumstances
Pride is insidious and will block relationships even among those considered to be peers

20. The Foolishness of Isolation Proverbs 18:1
Older people should have more friends at all levels, not less
The proud often become isolated unintentionally because they are exploited instead of told the truth
Avoid isolation for it is selfish and contrary to sound wisdom - we all need true, godly friends

21. The Danger of Inundation Proverbs 18:24
Inundation is having so many friends that you are overwhelmed
The current generation with many means of communication is more lonely that previous generations
Exchange of factoids is a poor substitute for meaningful friendship

22. The Danger of Inundation Proverbs 18:24
Take time to develop close & intimate friends and avoid overwhelming numbers of other types
You cannot develop close friends by posting vulnerable things about yourself

23. The Danger of Inundation Proverbs 18:24
Gossips reveal secrets - Proverbs 11:13, 20:19 - what can be done for those who posts their own secrets?
Post only what will glorify God and you will be safe

24. The Danger of Inundation Proverbs 18:24
Do not use your facebook or other social network page as a dairy
Do not use social networks to substitute for developing true friendships - or risk being broken

25. Develop your friendship with the only true friend that will be closer than a brother - Jesus Christ

26. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ