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4 Inspiring Verses

Proverb's Lessons on Making Friends

The book of Proverbs has so many practical insights into essential parts of living a fruitful and fulfilling life.

Making and keeping friends is undoubtedly a big part of what makes life work for me.

Many of the best-selling books of all time are about making friends — not the least of which is the Bible. Below you’ll find many of the recommendations that can be found in Proverbs. It also has lots of wisdom. 

You’ll also find one of my top reading recommendations, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie.

4 Lessons from Proverbs About How to Make Friends

1. Pick the right friends!

An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and, against all sound judgment, starts quarrels.Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Prov. 18:1-2ESV

Loners who care only for themselves spit on the common good. Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth.

Prov. 18:1-2 MSG

2. Ask for forgiveness when you offend a friend.

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Prov. 17:9 NIV

Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and –good-bye, friend.

Prov. 17:9 MSG

3. Stay away from people with a short fuse.

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered.

Prov. 22:24 NIV

Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious – don’t get infected.

Prov. 22:24 MSG

4. Give an appropriate gift!

Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

Prov. 17:8 MSG

Book Recommendation: ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’

In 1936, Dale Carnegie wrote How to Win Friends and Influence People. Over 30 million copies have been sold worldwide. These are four of my favorite takeaways from it:

  1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
  2. Smile. Remember that a person's name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language. 
  3. Be a good listener. Talk in terms of the other person's interest. 
  4. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

Everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime!

Find it on Amazon

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Bob Lonac

About Bob Lonac

Today, friends call me a leader of leaders. But this wasn’t always the case.

During my life of working in faith-based, Christ-centered ministry, relationships have proved to be the common thread. My passion is helping other people grow through one-on-one mentoring and small group training. I love building teams. I love seeing people and organizations succeed. You can read more about my story and what I'm doing now.

I am still learning a lot and it would be fantastic to share this journey with you! If you haven’t yet, sign up for my email newsletter so we can stay connected.