PRECIOUS YOUTH BIBLE STUDY

THE BIBLE STUDY FOR YOUTH
THEME: FRIEND
INTRODUCTION
A friend is one of the most popular word which is prevalent among every society in the world when we talk about relationship. If I may ask us what does this friend means and how can we inter into friend relationship? Encarta encyclopedia ©2008 defines friend as somebody emotionally close who trusts and is fond of another. Even God respects man, when it comes to this type of relationship, He called Abraham His friend Isaiah 41:8 Enoch too has not been lurked behind. What is man that the Most High God should live His dwellings in heaven in other to come down to friend man. It is a great privilege on the side of man. A British critic, writer and Anthologist called Hugh Kingsmill(1889-1949) once said, friends are God’s apology for relations.

There are two types of friend:
God –to- Man friend relationship
Man –to- Man friend relationship

GOD –TO- MAN FRIEND RELATIONSHIP
This type of friend is God lowering himself to the level of man in other to create a good atmosphere of fellowship with him. Example of this kind of friend relationship is written in the book of Genesis 3:8, Isaiah 41:8 and 2chronicles 20;7. God himself said …..Abraham is his friend forever.
Another man was our brother Moses the giver of law. God came to him. They speak face to face as friends. Exodus 33:1, Number 12:6-8
The last example we would give under this type is the case of Jesus Christ and His disciples. Many time we have been calling ourselves servants of God but that’s not what God wishes for us…..hereafter I call you not SERVANTS; FOR SERVANTS KNOWS NOT WHAT HIS LOORD DOES: BUT I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS; FOR ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD OF MY FATHER I HAVE MADE KNOWN TO YOU. JOHN 15:13-15, AMOSN 3:7
THINGS THAT CUT GOD-TO-MAN FRIEND RELATIONSHIP ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Friendship with the world James 4:4 Sin Isaiah 59:2

THINGS THAT MAKE GOD TO BEFRIEND MAN;
Godliness Proverbs 3:32
Righteousness James 2:23
Pleasing God in all ways Genesis 5:22-23
MAN-TO-MAN FRIEND RELATIONSHIP
This type is friendship among sons of men;
Good friend relationships in the Holy Bible
David and Jonathan 1 Samuel 18;1-4,20;1-29
Jephthah daughter and her friends Judges 11:28
QUALITIES THAT KEEP FRIENDS
Humility proverbs6:1
Working together in the same field Philemon 1
Good advice Proverbs 11:30,12:26
Love song of songs 5;16, Proverbs17:17
Friendliness proverbs 18;24
Wealth or riches Proverbs 19;4
Gift Genesis 32:5,20, proverbs 19:6
Purity Proverbs 22:11
Not forsaking each other Proverbs 27:10
Reverence to God Psalms 119:63
Faithfulness Proverbs 27:9
Politeness proverbs 27:17
Prime Job 29:4 etc

Bad friend relationship in the Holy Bible
Amnon and Jonadab 2 Samuel 13:3
QUALITIES OF BAD FRIENDS
Craftiness 2 Samuel 13:3
Betrayal Job 6;27,17;5, Psalm 55:20
Mock Job 12:4
Scorn Job 16:21,19;13
Forgets one another in times of troubles Job 19:14,19,Jeremiah 38:22
Wild Proverbs 28:9
Turn deaf ear to one another Isaiah 47:15
Slander Jeremiah 9:4
Set trap Obadiah 1:7
Ruin good character 1 Corinthians 15:33
Talkative Micah 7:5
THINGS THAT SEPARATE MAN-TO MAN FRIEND RELATIONSHIP
Gossip Proverbs 17;17,Psalms 15;3,41:9
Repulsiveness Psalms 88;8
Blessing with loud voice Proverbs 27:14
Lack of understanding Proverbs 17:18



08 June, 2009