Top 5 Qualities of Good Friends

Ben Franklin once said  "A true friend is the best possession." However, do you stop for a few moments and think about the friendships you possess now? What's your friendship standards? What do you see in people that would make you want to know them personally. Although everyone is different, I've ruled out 5 of the most important qualities that you should look for in a friend.


1. They should share your ideals/ be respectable

As the saying goes, 'show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are',you are who you spend most of your time with. It is without doubt that who we decide to 'chill' with has a direct effect on how we think, which leads to our behavior being either commendable or unacceptable. I know what you're thinking, "I am my own person. I decide who I want to be". But have you ever noticed that somethings you had specific views about in a friendship change after a few months? Or that you pick up a catch phrase that your BFF constantly utters? It just goes to show you that you need to make sure you have someone around you who will influence you for the better.

2. They need to be reliable

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be friends with someone who constantly thinks about themself and blurts out what I had for breakfast, lunch and dinner every time I tell them. Reliability comes in two forms: trustworthiness and confidentiality. 
It's so important for trust to reside in your friendships, to the point where this doesn't even become questionable. Now, I'm not saying that your friend should blindly accept anything you give them, because that's just foolish. But most of the time, it's alleviating to know that progress can be made without hindrance. 
In terms of confidentiality, this goes without saying. If your friend spreads your deepest secrets, then maybe stop telling them and find someone who respects your trust.


3. They must be honest

This one will be short and sweet. Okay, I know what you're thinking. What if it's necessary for my friend to lie to me to spare my feelings? Which is better though, to be lied to and to have a fake sense of confidence and reality, or to be in the light of things and to take criticism like a boss. I'll let you decide on that one. 

4.  They should be supportive
Like we said earlier, your friends shouldn't just go along with whatever you say. BUT, When it comes to things that matter, that are wholesome and good, a good friend should support them 100%. If you're anything like me, I try to surround myself with people who help me achieve my goals through their kind, uplifting words. Never should a friend pelt you with dubious words and disbelief. Instead of pointing out your flaws and leaving it at that, a true friend helps you to grow from them. 

5. They must be able to listen

In the book ' The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens', it states that true listening is listening with your eyes, heart and ears. (S.Covey, p.171). Like the book says, you need friends who will seek first to understand, then to be understood. So many friendships fall on hard grounds because we fail to listening genuinely. True friends truly 'hear each other out'. We all know that one wrong word or phrase damages relationships. 

What the Bible says about friends

I can confidently say we saved the best part for lasts. What better way to validate our advice than through the Word given to us by the creator of friendships. Here are some scriptures that show what true friends are supposed to be like.

• 1 Corinthians 15:33

"Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

• Job 2:11

"When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him"

• Proverbs 18: 24

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

• Proverbs 22:24-25

"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,  or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared."

 Let me know which qualities in a friend are most important to you. If we missed any, feel free to comment them below. God bless you ✝🙏🏽


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