Relational Purity~Friendships

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 

Relational purity should sound pretty simple; it’s  just keeping our relationships with others pure unto God. However, what do I mean by that?  Relational purity doesn’t always have to be a dating relationship between a boy and girl, it can be a friendship , or your relationship with your parents and siblings, and etc. But right now I’m just going to briefly cover friendships in this post because I think we hear enough about romantic relationships and not enough about how to be a better friend.

In Proverbs 27:17, it says:

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

So what do I mean when I say we should keep our friendships pure? What I love about Proverbs 27:17 is that is describes what our friendships are suppose to be: encouraging and uplifting. If you have “friend” that constantly belittles you, talks about you behind your back, pressures you to do the wrong things then that is a clear indicator that you’re in an unhealthy relationship. Or if you are doing the same thing to your friend, then you need to reconsider your actions. Friends are there to build each other up, not break each other down. I love how the Message Bible further explains this verse,

“You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” 

I think the one of the ways we can keep our friendships pure is to keep God in the center. Even if your friend is not a Christian, we still have to live that set apart life from the world and show our light so that our friend can see a difference in us. I’m not telling you to preach to your friend, but just live the life and walk that walk of faith. Also continue to pray for them as well.

I have been best friends with both these girls since second grade. What I love about them is that they are always encouraging and look at the bright side of situations. They also push me to be my best and they know how to make me laugh! What I love about our friendship is that even when we have different views, and various personalities, we still love each other unconditionally. And I believe that how God wants our friendships to be because He loves us despite of it all. And of course, He is the greatest friend that any girl could have.

“Best friends are people you know you don’t need to talk to every day. You don’t even need to talk to each other for weeks, but when you do, it’s like you never stopped talking.”― Anonymous

Read the rest of the PERMS in the following posts. Don’t worry, I am going to finish them.

• “The Wedding Day” (Introduction to PERMS)
• Emotional Purity
• Physical Purity

More than Just Sex…

Purity is so much more than just abstaining from sex (though that is a great start). It is living our lives pure and holy unto the Lord. It is the way we think, the way we dress, and even the way we act even when we think no one is looking (even though God sees everything). Many people may dress modestly but are still not living a pure life. Purity means “freedom from anything that debases [reduce in quality or value], contaminates, pollutes” (dictionary.com).

Is there anything in your life that is polluting you? Even some small things that we may think is nothing such as lying, gossiping, being jealous, telling someone off, or pushing God aside can pollute our lives. As my pastor always says, “It’s the small foxes that destroys the vines.” (found in Song of Solomon 2:15)

We are not perfect, I can testify to that, but do not allow that to be an excuse to what is wrong on purpose. There is always something we all (yes and me!) can work on so that we can become more like Christ.

“Whoever says he abides in [Christ] ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”~1 John 2:6

That is our job as Christians–not to think we are more holy or better than someone else– but to be more like Jesus! When people begin look at us walking down school hallways, on our jobs, in the grocery store, or in the even park,  they won’t see us…but the God in us. His love, His mercy, His grace, His power in our lives. That is how lives are changed. Not by what we preach, but the lives we live if we walk by what we preach…including me. The world is looking at us, what are you going to show them?

“Psalm 119:9ESV “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word.”

~HisGirl