One of the most important aspects of life is developing great friendships. We need friends. No one can do life alone. God designed us to be in relationships with one another.

But making, and being, a good friend can be difficult sometimes. And especially so if you are the least bit introverted at all. Luckily, there are several things that you and I can do to help develop quality friendships that will last a lifetime.

When you look through the Bible, you see multiple examples of great friendships. For example, King David, before he became king, and Jonathan had an amazing friendship. Their relationship went to great depths, inspiring David to say that it was deeper than any other in 2 Samuel 1:26.

Their relationship went beyond casual acquaintance, deeper than social buddies, and achieved the level that few people ever reach.

A friendship such as this is needed, and it will help you develop into the man or woman that God has created you to be. And when we develop that kind of friendship, it’s because we have learned to be that kind of friend.

There are a few things that you and I can do to build such friendships. Some of them are more difficult than others, but all of these traits will help you be the kind of friend that you want to have.

Listen

Listen to what people say. Let them know that you hear them and that what they are saying is important to you. Make them feel like that matter, and what they say matters. This will help them to know that you value them.

Be authentic

Be yourself. Completely. Don’t hide who you are behind a facade, or by pretending to be something you are not.

Empathize

Try to see where the other person is coming from. Understanding where the other person is coming from can help you communicate better.

Apologize

When you make a mistake or wrong someone, apologize for your actions. Take responsibility, and admit it when you are wrong.

Keep your promises

Be sure to follow through on the things that you say you’ll do. If you know you can’t or won’t deliver, then don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Have fun

Nothing builds a friendship better than having some fun together. Enjoying each other’s company will help to create some great memories, and help build solid friendships.

Close your mouth

When your friend shares personal information with you, keep it confidential. Nothing can hurt a friendship faster than loose lips. Don’t betray a confidence.

These are just a few of the things that can help to build and strengthen friendships. There are many other ways and ideas that can be added to this list. But these make a great start.

Question: What do you do to build and maintain great friendships? You can leave a comment by clicking here.