A Child of the King: Friendship and the World
There is something beautiful about knowing who you are and even more powerful in knowing whose you are. If you are a believer in Christ, then you are not ordinary. You are royalty. You are a child of the King and as such you carry a royal identity that should influence every area of your life including your friendships. In a world that celebrates compromise, self-centeredness, and popularity over purpose, it is easy to forget who we are and whose we are, sadly. The world says, “go with the flow“, “do what feels good“, “follow who know road“, but what does the bible say?
Royal Identity, Royal Conduct
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 2:9:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
This verse reminds us that being a child of God comes with both privilege and responsibility. As members of God’s royal family, we are called to live differently. Our speech, choices, values and yes, our friendships should reflect our heavenly heritage. The people we relate with can either reinforce our royal identity or quietly strip it away. This is why we must talk about friendship and how it relates to our kingdom identity.
Friendship with the World vs. Friendship with God
In James 4:4, we are warned:
“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”
This does not mean we should not love or relate with people in the world, rather it implies that we must not adopt the world’s standards for relationships. The world celebrates friendships based on:
- Popularity, not purpose
- Selfishness, not sacrifice
- Hype, not holiness
- Gossip, not godliness
But godly friendships are and should be rooted in love, truth, purpose, and accountability. Let us be honest, some friendships pull us away from God more than they pull us toward Him. They make sin look fun and holiness look boring. But that is not who we are. That is not how royalty behaves. Our loyalty must be to heaven, not to trends.
Choosing Royal Friends
As a child of the King, you need friends who:
- Point you to God (Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron…”): Godly friends speak life, not lust. They remind you of your calling, not your cravings. As humans there is the tendency to fall or slip off, but these friends would hold us fast and encourage us back to the right track.
- Tell you the truth in love: Real friends do not flatter your weaknesses, they correct you in love and walk with you in grace. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” – Proverbs 27:6.
- Help you grow in purpose, not pull you into compromise: Kingdom friends do not just play or gist with you, they pray with you. They support your calling and do not envy your growth.
“Two are better than one… If either of them falls, one can help the other up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Remember the story of Daniel and his friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were young, gifted and surrounded by a corrupt culture, but they did not lose their identity. Why? because they stood together. When others bowed to idols, they stood in faith. They had each other’s backs and more importantly, they had God at the center of their friendship. That is the model of royal friendship, standing together in holiness even when the world pressures you to bow.
Friendship That Honors the King
Here is the truth: You do not need a hundred friends; you need the right friends. Our friendships should be like precious jewels in the King’s crown, glorious, pure, and reflective of His light. As ambassadors of heaven, we must ask ourselves:
- Do my friends draw me closer to God?
- Do our conversations reflect holiness or compromise?
- If Jesus were physically present, would I be proud of the way we interact?
- If the lord should goes through my Whatsapp and snapchat conversations, would he be proud of me?
Take a minute, pause and reflect. Were the answers to this? positive or negative. If positive, Glory to God, If not, why not? You need to take a bold step and decide today to walk away. Do not be afraid to walk away from relationships that lead you away from your Father. Love people, yes, be kind, always, but never compromise your identity for connection
A Royal Challenge
To every young believer reading this:
You are not just anyone, you are a child of the King. Do not settle for friendships that dull your shine. Seek relationships that reflect your Father’s glory. Be the kind of friend who loves purely, prays fervently, and stands firmly in faith. Let your friendships testify that you belong to a heavenly kingdom, where love is real, holiness is beautiful, and loyalty to Christ is never outdated.
NB: Except otherwise stated, all images are from Google Images
