Life by Design

Build a life by design, not by accident — and leave behind a story worth telling.

Friendship

Iron sharpens iron

You become like the people you spend time with. Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. Wise friends make you wiser. Foolish friends make you foolish. There’s no middle ground.

Most friendships are shallow—built on convenience, proximity, and shared entertainment. Biblical friendship goes deeper. It sharpens, challenges, encourages, and holds accountable. It shows up in crisis. It speaks truth when it’s hard. It sticks around when everyone else leaves.

You need friends who push you toward Christ, not away from Him. Choose them carefully. Invest in them deeply.

Master these 7 principles to build friendships that last and make you better.

The 7 core principles:

1
Choose Friends Wisely
Walk with the wise and become wise. Avoid fools who will drag you down. Prioritize friendships with believers who love Christ. Quality over quantity. A few deep friendships beat many shallow ones.
2
Invest Time Consistently
Friendship requires presence. Schedule regular time together. Meals. Walks. Workouts. Projects. Don't just text—spend face-to-face time. Make it a priority, not an afterthought. Consistency builds depth.
3
Speak Truth in Love
Encourage when they're discouraged. Correct when they're in sin. Celebrate their wins. Challenge their excuses. Real friends don't just tell you what you want to hear—they tell you what you need to hear.
4
Be Loyal Always
Show up in hard times. Keep confidences. Defend them when they're slandered. Don't gossip. Stick with them through seasons of life. A friend loves at all times. Prove it.
5
Hold Each Other Accountable
Give permission to ask hard questions. Confess struggles and sins. Call out patterns you see. Push each other toward holiness. Accountability isn't optional—it's essential for growth.
6
Bear Each Other's Burdens
Show up when they're suffering. Practical help matters. Move furniture. Bring meals. Watch kids. Pray together. Mourn with those who mourn. Don't just offer help—do it.
7
Sharpen Each Other
Challenge bad thinking. Recommend books. Discuss theology. Share what you're learning. Push each other to grow spiritually, intellectually, and practically. Iron sharpens iron—but only through friction.

Start with one principle. Master it for a week. Then add the next. Friendship isn’t built in moments—it’s built in years of showing up, speaking truth, and walking together. You’re not building casual acquaintances—you’re building brothers and sisters who make you more like Christ.

Need personalized guidance? Use AI tools like Claude or ChatGPT to navigate friendship challenges, initiate deeper conversations, and build accountability structures.

Ready for structure? Start the 7-Week Friendship Challenge → One principle per week, progressive habit-stacking, building all seven elements into your friendships systematically.