Becoming Friend Worthy: Meet a Need & Make a Friend

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Ephesians 4:32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted) forgiving one another (readily and freely) as God in Christ forgave you. (Amplified)

I was standing in the laundry room, mumbling to God as I changed loads “I sure could use a friend today God” when I heard the whisper “what are you doing to be a friend?”. Shortly after I remember landing on the verse above and was struck by the words “…become useful, and helpful and kind…”these are the doors that open us up to friendship.

We of course need to be welcoming in our approach or otherwise our attempts to be useful might seem overbearing to some but many friendships I have today have been started by either myself or my friend being useful, helpful and kind.

What do these things look like.

Useful

If you see a mom of little ones struggling to make it in the door, go over and open the door for her, or offer to carry something in that she is struggling with. See your neighbor out there by herself in the rain lifting in three kids and all the groceries, run out and help her get it out faster.

Helpful

If someone mentions a need you know you could fill: FILL IT. Are they trying to complete a task and need a tool you have, loan it to them. Are they planning a big project over the weekend in an area you know you have some talent in, lend you talent.

Kind

If someone spills their heart out and breaks out in tears during a sharing time at bible study, give her a hug, words are not needed a simple hug says so much.

I am not perfect at this, us introverts tend to live life internally and don’t see the world right under our noses sometimes. I miss many opportunities and kick myself later going “oh why didn’t I.. .”

I found the best way to start seeing opportunities to be useful, helpful and kind is to pray for God to make you aware and that He would put on your heart how to respond to those needs you see, and then watch the conversations that begin out of these actions. Before you know it those conversations will grow into friendships.

This post is part of the New Town to Hometown series. Use the links below to dig into the series.

Introduction: My Story

Part One: Becoming Friend Worthy