C. S. Lewis was wrong – You need friends

(Photo: Karlina - Carla Sedini)

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” -C. S. Lewis

I liked that quote for the longest time. Actually, I still like it, but I think it only describes part of friendship.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said this, and it’s recorded in the Bible:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”  -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

So although C. S. Lewis was probably right that friendship is one of those things that gives value to survival, friendship is also crucial for survival.

When you’re alone and you fall down, no one’s around to catch you. But if you have even one friend when you fall, that one friend can help you back up. Or even if you both fall at the same time, each of you gives the other a reason to get up.

How many survival stories have you heard where friends continue hoping and struggling forward simply because they want to be there for each other? What about during those marathons when total strangers band together to run side by side, because without each other, they’d quit? Do people usually commit suicide together or in solitude?

See, that’s the survival value of friendships. I like that C. S. Lewis said friends give us a reason to survive, but without that reason, we usually wouldn’t survive.

Serving Suggestions:

(1) If you fell, can you name the person who would help you up? The more aware you are of your friendships, the easier it is to continue to grow them.

(2) Are you building friendships that are strong enough to help you survive? Are you building friendships that are strong enough to help your friends survive? Do something on purpose right now to start… or – if you’ve already started – do something to continue.

(3) Shameless plug… because I actually think it’s worth it: check out my ebook, How to Make a Friend (in 10 Days). It’ll give you some ideas to jump-start your friendships.