Core Values Series: Friendship With God at Any Cost

"Friendship with God at any cost" expresses a radical commitment to pursuing an intimate relationship with God, no matter the challenges or sacrifices involved. This core value emphasizes that true friendship with God requires prioritizing Him above all else, even when it demands difficult choices or personal cost.

First of all, let me say that this friendship is freely available to every follower of Jesus. It's not reserved for pastors or monks or missionaries. It's not locked behind a paywall or a subscription upgrade. It's not an optional add-on feature, it's part of the base package.

Friendship with God is an invitation to deep intimacy. It is not just about following a set of religious rules or seeking blessings; it is about knowing God personally, loving Him wholeheartedly, and walking closely with Him in every aspect of life. In Scripture, we see examples of this kind of friendship with figures like Abraham, who was called “a friend of God” (James 2:23). This friendship involved trust, obedience, and sacrifice as Abraham continually sought to align his life with God’s will.

To pursue friendship with God at any cost means embracing the reality that this relationship will sometimes lead us through hardship, discomfort, or even suffering. Jesus Himself said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). This call to take up our cross signifies that friendship with God might require laying down our own desires, ambitions, or comfort for the sake of knowing Him more deeply.

Yet, the cost is worth it. The beauty of friendship with God lies in the depth of love, peace, and purpose we find in His presence. As we draw nearer to God, we experience His faithfulness, wisdom, and guidance in ways that transform us from the inside out. We begin to understand that the things we give up—whether material possessions, unhealthy relationships, or worldly success—pale in comparison to the joy and fulfillment that come from walking in friendship with our Creator.

This core value also speaks to the exclusivity of the relationship. To be friends with God means to reject anything that might pull us away from Him, even if it seems good on the surface. Whether it’s the lure of social acceptance, the pursuit of wealth, or the distractions of modern life, anything that competes for God’s place in our hearts must be surrendered. This may lead to difficult choices, but true friendship with God requires that we choose Him above all else.

Ultimately, friendship with God at any cost is about trust. We trust that whatever sacrifices we make in pursuit of this relationship are more than outweighed by the richness of life in Christ. We trust that God’s plans for us are good, even when the path seems unclear. And we trust that in seeking friendship with Him, we are stepping into the very purpose for which we were created.

This value calls us to a life of devotion and surrender, where God is not just a distant deity, but a close and beloved friend—even a treasure worth paying any price for.

If you're looking for a group of people who share this passion for God, who get misty-eyed when they talk about Him, who worship for hours because He's worthy, who cling to Jesus tightly in all things, then you should come check out one of our gatherings. To find out when and where we're meeting next, click here.