Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. (Ecclesiastes 11.4, NLT)

Last spring/summer we did a teaching series at our church called Now is >.

The whole idea was NOW, today, is the perfect time to ________.

Here is a post from our NOW is Greater series:

Now is the time to do that thing you’ve been thinking about for the longest time but simply haven’t gotten around to it.

Now > Later or Someday or When I feel like it.

Now is the time.

This truth can be directly applied to friendship.

A good friend is hard to find.

A great friendship is a precious commodity, more valuable than any financial sum.

Recent research makes this point abundantly clear.

A Harvard study found: “Breast cancer patients with no friendship network are four times more likely to die from the disease than those with ten or more close friends.”

When it comes to friendship the question often becomes how to find and build meaningful ones?

Too often we fall into the trap of waiting around for friends to suddenly appear.

The best way to find great friends is to be the kind of friend you’re searching for.

Here are a few ways to become a great friend, NOW:

Be generous with love – “A friend loves at all times…” (Proverbs 17.17, NLT)

Be kind, honor others – “Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12.10, NLT)

Have people over – “Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (1 Peter 4.9-10, NLT)

Bless others – “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends.” –Jesus (Luke 16.9, NLT)

Share an encouraging word – “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5.11, NLT)

Today is a great day to begin building great friendships.

You can get started now.

Be the friend you’d like to have.

Now is >