When we think about planning for retirement, we hear the same advice over and over again: start early. Financial advisors tell us that the earlier we begin to invest, even with small amounts, the more our savings can grow over time. Compound interest works best when time is on your side. But the same is true in our spiritual and relational lives — especially when it comes to building strong, life-giving friendships.
Friendship, like any meaningful investment, takes time. It’s not built in a rush or squeezed into the leftover moments of our lives. It’s something we plant, water, and nurture over the years. If we want to enjoy the deep comfort, trust, and encouragement of close brothers in Christ later in life, we need to start planting those seeds now.
A Biblical View of Friendship
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” That kind of brotherhood doesn’t come out of nowhere. It grows through shared time, prayer, and intentional care. Like any good crop, it starts with planting — early and consistently.
Jesus modeled this beautifully. Though He had a public ministry of just three years, He invested deeply in His disciples from the beginning. He ate with them, traveled with them, laughed and cried with them. Even knowing He’d only be with them for a short time, Jesus planted seeds of friendship that would eventually become the foundation of the early Church.
Investing Now for What’s to Come
It’s tempting to put friendship on the backburner — especially in busy seasons of life. Work, family, and other responsibilities can make meaningful connection feel optional. But here’s the thing: when adversity hits, it’s too late to start planting. You need roots already in place.
The best time to invest in friendship is before you think you “need” it.
Friendships are your spiritual 401(k). They won’t grow unless you feed them regularly. That could be a simple weekly check-in, joining a Bible study, making space for coffee with a brother, or even shooting a quick text just to say “thinking of you.” Small investments, over time, pay big dividends.
Jesus Invested in You, Too
Let’s not forget: our model for friendship starts with Jesus. He calls us friends (John 15:15) and laid down His life for us while we were still sinners. If the Savior of the world saw friendship as essential, shouldn’t we?
He knew that relationships are eternal. Money, achievements, and schedules will all pass away, but the love we show and the lives we touch will echo into eternity.
Reflection Questions
- Do you agree that investing in friendships can bear an “investment return” similar to your return on your financial investments?
- How are you currently investing in your friendships? Are there relationships you’ve been meaning to nurture?
- Are you waiting for “free time” to grow friendships? What would change if you prioritized connection like you would a financial investment?
- What kind of friend do you want to be remembered as, and what seeds can you start planting today to become that man?
Men's Small Group Blog 