This is the last message in the series from the book of Colossians called Diamonds – Making Diamonds Out of Dust. There was a 72 year study from Harvard University that was trying to determine what makes people happy. They study wanted to determine what is it that brings people the most joy, the most happiness, the most fulfillment in life? The study concluded that it comes down to relationships. Having close, true, genuine friendships in life is what helps us to have a happy, rewarding life. However, a Gallup poll, reports that 4 in 10 Americans struggle with feelings of intense loneliness.
Why should I choose close friends? Proverbs 12:26 says, The righteous choose their friends carefully,but the way of the wicked leads them astray. And Proverbs 13:20 says, Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. So how do we recognize a friend when we see one?
Scripture Reference: Colossians 4:7-18