How Can You Become God’s Friend?

Edward D. Andrews
1 day ago
7 min read

Becoming God's friend is one of the most intimate and rewarding pursuits a person can undertake. The Scriptures reveal that Jehovah, the Almighty Creator, desires not merely passive obedience but a real, personal relationship with those who seek him in sincerity and truth. He is not distant or indifferent. Instead, Jehovah has consistently revealed himself as a loving Father and Friend to those who fear him and obey his commandments. The invitation to friendship with God is extended to all, but not all accept or understand the depth of what it means. To truly be God’s friend, one must approach him on his terms, guided by his Word, and shaped by a lifestyle that reflects reverent devotion, moral purity, and faithful obedience.

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The Basis of Friendship with God: Reverent Fear and Obedience

The Scriptures clearly state that Jehovah befriends only those who align themselves with his standards. Psalm 25:14 says, “The friendship of Jehovah is with those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.” The Hebrew word for “friendship” here (סוֹד, sôd) conveys the idea of intimate counsel, shared secrets, and mutual trust. This is not casual companionship but a deeply reverent relationship marked by loyalty, truth, and trust.

God’s friendship is not available indiscriminately; it is reserved for those who “fear him.” This fear is not terror or dread, but profound reverence and awe that leads to obedience. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” A proper view of God's holiness, justice, and sovereignty is foundational to becoming his friend. Without this reverence, a person cannot rightly approach him or live in a way that pleases him.

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Friendship Requires Faith: Imitating Abraham

One of the clearest examples of friendship with God in the Scriptures is Abraham. James 2:23 states, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” Abraham's faith was not a passive assent to God's existence but a lived-out trust that obeyed even when it was difficult. He left his homeland, accepted circumcision as a covenant sign, and was willing to offer up his son Isaac in obedience to Jehovah’s command (Genesis 12:1–4; 17:9–14; 22:1–18).

True faith, then, involves obedient action. As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” To be God’s friend like Abraham was, one must live by faith that is demonstrated in obedience—not merely belief or emotion, but loyal trust that results in righteous behavior.

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Walking in Holiness: Moral Separation from the World

Friendship with God also means rejecting friendship with the world. James 4:4 is blunt: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” The “world” (kosmos) in this context refers to the moral system that opposes God's standards—a system characterized by pride, sensuality, and rebellion. To become God’s friend, one must separate from worldly conduct and values.

This moral separation involves daily decisions about behavior, entertainment, language, relationships, and personal ambitions. Romans 12:2 commands believers: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Holiness is not optional—it is the lifestyle of those who are friends of God. This is why Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “Come out from among them and be separate, says Jehovah, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

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Sincere Prayer and Bible Study: Maintaining the Relationship

Just as human friendships require communication, so too does friendship with God. Regular prayer and study of the Scriptures are indispensable for cultivating this divine relationship. Psalm 1:2 describes the blessed man as one “whose delight is in the law of Jehovah, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Such constant meditation fuels understanding, love, and alignment with God's will.

Prayer is also essential. Philippians 4:6 urges, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Though God knows our needs, he desires that we speak to him, sharing our thoughts, burdens, and praise. Jesus modeled frequent prayer during his earthly life, often withdrawing for long periods to commune with the Father (Luke 5:16).

Bible reading and prayer keep the mind focused on Jehovah’s purposes, helping believers resist temptation, pursue righteousness, and stay grounded in truth. Friendship with God is not sustained by emotional highs but by disciplined, loving engagement with his Word and will.

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Baptism and Covenant Commitment

A formal beginning to friendship with God, in accordance with Scripture, includes baptism. Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19–20 that disciples be baptized and taught to observe all that he commanded. Baptism is not merely symbolic but marks one’s death to sin and entrance into a covenant relationship with God. Romans 6:4 explains: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... we too might walk in newness of life.”

Baptism must follow faith, repentance, and instruction, which means that infants are not proper candidates for this act. It is a personal, conscious choice to become a disciple and begin walking in friendship with God. Through baptism, one commits to a life of obedience, identifying with Christ’s death and resurrection, and gaining hope for eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, zōē aiōnion).

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Loyalty in Trials and Endurance to the End

True friendship is tested in adversity. The same applies to one’s relationship with God. Job is a prime example of this principle. Though he suffered intensely, he never abandoned his reverence for Jehovah. In Job 13:15 he declared, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him.” Loyalty through trials deepens friendship with God, showing that one’s devotion is genuine and not based on personal benefit.

Jesus warned that only “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Friendship with God is not a one-time decision but a lifelong walk. It requires continual growth, resistance to sin, and steadfastness in faith. As Hebrews 10:36 says, “You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

Jehovah supports those who seek him. He gives strength through his Word, through the encouragement of fellow believers, and through the hope of resurrection. Those who endure will not be disappointed.

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God’s Reward for His Friends: Eternal Life and Fellowship

Ultimately, God's friends are those whom he welcomes into his eternal kingdom. Jesus told his followers, “No longer do I call you servants... but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). But this statement applied specifically to the apostles who received special revelation through the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:13). Today, God’s friendship is experienced through understanding his Word, not mystical experiences.

God’s friends receive the greatest of blessings—not only peace in this life, but resurrection and eternal life on a restored earth or, for the select few who rule with Christ, heavenly life as immortal (ἄφθαρτος, aphthartos) beings. This is not automatic or universal but given to those who follow the path of faithful obedience. As Romans 2:7 teaches, God will grant “eternal life to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality.”

Friendship with God is the highest relationship a person can attain. It demands total commitment—faith, reverence, moral purity, constant prayer, deep study, and endurance. Yet for those who pursue it with a whole heart, Jehovah promises intimacy now and everlasting reward in the future. Becoming God’s friend is not a mystery—it is a clear, biblical process. The question is not whether God desires your friendship, but whether you are willing to meet his conditions.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).