What can hinder or hurt friendships?

1 Samuel 18:5-13Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. . . . So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

Jealousy is the great dividing force of friendships. Envying what a friend has will soon turn to anger and bitterness, causing us to separate ourselves from the ones we truly cared for.

Psalm 41:9Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

When trust is seriously damaged, even the closest friendship is at risk.

2 Samuel 13:11As she [Tamar] was feeding him, he [Amnon] grabbed her and demanded, “Come to bed with me, my darling sister.”

Friendships are destroyed when boundaries are violated.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

Not all of our friends will hold the same values or have the same relationship with God that we do. Sometimes, a point comes when a friendship is dragging us against the direction God is calling us. At those times, we may have to drift away or even sever the relationship.