Pure Friendships

I have lots of opposite-sex friends. How can I keep those friendships pure?

God’s Response

One of them was Lydia. . . . She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. Acts 16:14-15

Paul . . . said good-bye to the brothers and sisters. . . . Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. Acts 18:18

Opposite-sex friendships are valuable, especially since it’s important that the person you marry be your friend first. As a Christian, you have a responsibility to encourage your friends to grow closer to Christ regardless of their gender. The best way to keep your friendships pure is to treat your friends like brothers and sisters. Paul gave women such as Lydia and Priscilla this kind of respect. You can do the same by training yourself to focus on your friends’ heart—who they really are—rather than on just their appearance.

This Is Promising

Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. . . . Treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. 1 Timothy 5:1-2