(writen by Suzanne Brenner)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Rather than faddish methods for friendship, the Bible gives basic, ageless instruction on how to live in community in a way that honors God.

There is no impatience, envy, rudeness or selfishness in love, but rather it is characterized by humility, forgiveness and trust.

Friendship usually starts off so well — you have common interests, you have fun together, you just click — that we don’t often think about the elements that make up a godly friendship. Yet most of us have experienced the breakdown of a friendship. Thus we need the truth from God’s Word to teach us how to love.

Romans 12:9-21 provides basic principles that can be applied to every relationship in our lives:

Be sincere
Reject what is evil
Cling to what is good
Be faithful
Share
Be hospitable
Never return an unkind deed with an unkind deed Be happy with those who are happy Be sad with those who are sad Get along Don’t be arrogant Be a friend to someone regardless of his or her position or status Don’t take revenge, but trust God to look after you .

As we put these principles into action, we will become friends who know how to love.

Prayer: I want to be that kind of person. Teach me how to love like You love.”