Friends—Who Needs Them? We all do—a friend is that person who will not only share your joys but  also lend a listening ear or a helping hand when trouble comes. Friends  are not flawless, but they care. We turn to friends for counsel when we are perplexed, courage when facing a crisis, and compassion when we have failed.  We are created with a need to give and share love and friendship as well as receive it.

Relationships are a great antidote to  selfishness. They provide opportunities for us to attend to the needs of  others. Relationships also ward off that foggy self-centeredness that  blinds us to ways that we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Created to Connect. When God created man He said: “It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make him a helper suitable for him.”[1] Research indicates that love and positive relationships impact health  and well-being. Happily married people live longer, and have fewer  doctors’ visits than those who are unhitched or unhappy.  These cozy  couples tend to have lower blood pressure, heart failure, strokes, and  better health habits than their crankier counterparts.

When couples act as a team they are better able  to defray the detrimental effects of stress that can sap immune strength  and shorten life. This is in part due to the release of oxytocin, a  bonding hormone that is released when mother’s nurse their babies.  It  is also released when we experience the nurturing effect of social  connectedness with other people.

Single but not Sidelined. The  healing benefits of positive social ties are also available to those  who are widowed, divorced, single, or living alone for whatever reason.  God knew that in this broken world not everyone would experience the  blessing of a long, happy marriage.  “God sets the solitary in families.  He raises up the needy out of affliction, and makes him families like a  flock.”[2] Social institutions such as extended family, church, and community are  as important to mental and physical health as nutrition and exercise.

A pooled analysis of studies showed that people  with positive social relationships had a whopping 50% greater likelihood  of survival compared to those with poor or insufficient social  relationships. Those with scant or negative social ties had a mortality  rate roughly equivalent to a person who smokes 15 cigarettes a day. The  health benefit of social connectedness was comparable to quitting  smoking and even exceeded other life-shortening factors as obesity and  physical inactivity.[3]

In a landmark report called “Hardwired to Connect” researchers concluded that high rates of depression, anxiety, and other  serious mental, emotional, and behavioral problems among U.S. children  and adolescents is largely due to a lack of connectedness.  “We mean two  kinds of connectedness—close connections to other people, and deep  connections to moral and spiritual meaning.”[4]

The “How-to’s” of Hello.

• Show up. It seems we are “primed” to like each other as we get used to each  other’s presence, something called an “exposure effect.” Just “showing  up” at social functions on a regular basis increases likeability, even  when interaction has not yet occurred.  So don’t shy away from that  picnic or potluck—“show up” for the start of some satisfying  friendships.

• Take an interest. Forming a friendship begins with the principle that “a man who has friends must himself be friendly.”[5] Some practical social skills include smiling, taking a genuine interest  in other people and remembering their name, making them feel special by  being a good listener, and creating a comfortable environment for  getting acquainted.

• Don’t spill your beans. Sharing  preferences about music, food, or hobbies is a way to lead to deeper  conversations over time about your most intimate hopes and fears.   Sharing a lot of highly personal information right away is too much for  many people to handle.  Take time to cultivate each level of friendship  carefully and slowly.

• Be yourself. One  of the drawbacks of internet social sites is that participants tend to  construct a “virtual” identity devoid of the nuances and non-verbal cues  present in face-to-face encounters. Being open, honest, and clear about  who you are and what your intentions are is better than creating a  composite of yourself that lacks genuineness.

Flaws, Foibles, and Friends.

• Be realistic. No  single friend or loved one can meet every need, be there for you at all  times, read your mind, or agree with you on everything. Keep your  social circle wide enough to embrace friends with different strengths  and weaknesses.

• Be accepting. Entering into a friendship means accepting a person with a set of  problems and flaws and committing to grow together. A healthy  relationship involves giving as well as taking—forgiveness as well as  challenging each other to grow.

• Be invested. Shared  experiences such as births, weddings, trips, tragedies, successes,  illnesses, meals, and even everyday activities such as walking together  or shopping add meaning and value to life. But they take time—even a  lifetime—to grow and develop.  Don’t ditch a potentially positive  relationship over little obstacles that can become stepping stones to  deeper commitment over time.

Closer than a Brother. Having  connections at all levels is important and beneficial—from a few deeply  caring and committed relationships to a wider circle of casual and  courteous contacts. In this world failed relationships and friendships  occur as well as successful ones. But there is one Friend who will never  fail you.  He is perfect in love, present at all times, and powerful to save—and that is Jesus.  He promises to be your “Friend who sticks closer than a brother.”[6] Spending time with Him in His Word, the Bible, will deepen that  friendship and tap into the wonderful resources for your life that no  other friend can give. Now that’s a Friendship worth the investment!

[1] Genesis 2:18.

[2] Psalm 68:6; Psalm 107:41.

[3] PLoS Med 2010;7(7): e1000316.

[4] Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative  Communities. The Commission on Children at Risk, Executive Summary.   2003.

[5] Proverbs 18:24a.

[6] Ibid, b.

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