This Proverbs miniseries introduces a biblical view of relationships. We will focus on topics such as the formative power of relationships, the nature of friendship, how parents and children should relate to one another, how husbands and wives should relate to one another, and how we should relate to those in authority over us.

OPENING DISCUSSION
A recent survey found that nearly half of Americans wish for deeper friendships. While this statistic is discouraging, it also reveals something profound about human nature: we all crave friendship! But this craving for connection raises a fundamental question: What is friendship? How would you answer that question? And what makes it different from other kinds of relationships in life?

BIG IDEA
The wise person understands that deep friendships are part of God’s plan for our flourishing.

Read Proverbs 18:24. In this Proverb, the author contrasts companions and friends, and he argues that one true friend is far more valuable than many companions.

• What do you think the difference is between a companion and a friend?
• The author argues that if a person has several superficial relationships (“many companions”) but no true friends, they will end up in ruin. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you had a wealth of companions but a poverty of true friends? How did that adversely affect your life?
• The author describes a true friend as one who sticks closer than a brother. Have you ever experienced this kind of friendship? If so, what made this person feel closer than a brother?

According to Proverbs, a true friend loves us in times of adversity (17:17), is willing to speak hard words to us for our good (27:6), and gives us good counsel (27:9).
 

• Have you ever walked through adversity with a friend? How did that experience affect your relationship?
• When was the last time a friend spoke hard words to you or vice versa? What was that experience like?
• What friend in your life do you consistently go to for advice? Why do you trust their counsel?

Sometimes, it is easy to fixate on how others are failing to be good friends to us and forget that God calls us to be good friends to them. The former mindset is disempowering and leads to anxiety and frustration, while the latter is empowering and leads to proactive deeds of love toward others. We can’t always control how well our friends love us, but we can control how we love them.

• In what specific ways do you sense God is calling you to be a better friend to others?
• How will your life need to change in order to become a better friend?