HONORING TRUE COVENANT FRIENDSHIPS

Jonelle Maxwell

Have we really been taken close evaluation of our friendships? Over the last few months, I have quietly observed the friendships that are in my life. I found that some are not true friendships at all. I believe in this hour God want us to be able to discern who are really with us and who are not. The fruit we should see is…LOVE! Our relationships are extremely important and play a huge part in what God want to do in the earth.

📌”A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
[Proverbs 17:17]

📌’Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.’ [Proverbs 17:9]

📌”A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” [Proverbs 16:28]

📌”Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.’ [Proverbs 22:24-25]

When I was much younger, before accepting Christ, I called everyone my friend. Only to find out how deceived I was. Many of my so called friends was discrediting me behind my back and was only around when I had something to offer. This is not a true friendship. Truth is, true friendships are hard to find, ESPECIALLY when it comes to communicating with them concerning the personal things in your life like relationships and marriage. This is an area we must guard our heart and use discretion because everyone is not our friend.

Let’s take a look at some of the fruit that comes from having true covenant friendships from the perspective of relationships and marriages.

TRUE COVENANT FRIENDSHIPS will not take your side concerning your relationship/marriage. They will not be bias. They will allow the Holy Spirit to give wisdom seeing both sides. They will tell you the truth about you, even if you don’t like it. They will tell you to be patient with your mate because you are not perfect nor is your mate. They will tell you to be there through the good but more so through the bad. They will tell you to hang in there because you made a vow before God. They will tell you to fight and to be in it to win it. They will tell you to honor your mate and speak well of them no matter what. They will tell you to cover your mate’s flaws and insecurities because exposing them will bring them to ruin. They will lead you back to the Word of God. They will tell you to always pray for your mate. They will always tell you to communicate and be honest with your mate. They will tell you to keep your marriage/relationship between you, your mate, and God. They will love you both equally.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…
THEY WILL TELL YOU TO LOVE!!!

They won’t tell you to walk away from what God has and is bringing together because things are not going good at the moment. They will not bring you bad news about your mate, but will pray for you both. They will not sow discord and dishonor. They will not gossip about your relationship/marriage. They will cover and protect. They will not speak bad by sowing seeds of negativity about your mate to you. They will not desire to see your relationship/marriage to fail. But they desire to see you both succeed.
These are the true covenant friendships God ordains. He ALWAYS have people that love you and want you to WIN.

📌Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. [1 Thessalonians 5:11]

📌”Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
[Proverbs 27:17]

This what a true friend look like. So, take time to closely observe and pray concerning them. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal. Don’t just go cutting people off, but allow the Holy Spirit do what need to be done. GOD IS FAITHFUL to protect you from wrong friendships and to restore friendships you may already have.

JUST TRUST GOD!