The subject of friendship has been on my heart lately, so I asked the Lord, What is true friendship? How should we treat our friends? How can I get a faithful friend? Through praying and seeking His Word, He said in order to have friends, first you have to be a friend. As I experienced true friendship is not always that obvious people you thought were your friends may turn out to be disloyal, and those that you thought didn't care as much for you as you did for them, may turn out to be your closest allies. The bible has many verses on friendship and good examples of close friendship, in the first part of this subject I exampled types of true christian friendship and traits of true christian friendship. So this part of the subject is about knowing who your friends are and the gift of friendship.
True and Lasting Friendship Can Occur Suddenly (1 Samuel 18:1-3)
The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of divine grace, God united them of one heart and one soul, it was not carnal, their souls connected instantly and had respect and honor for each other and for God.
Faithful Friends are a Rare Treasure (Proverbs 18:24)
We must show ourselves to be friendly, meaning being free with each other always being truthful, do things pleasing, making time and spending the time finding out whats going on in their lives, visiting them when sick, poor, or needy, serving and enjoying each others company. The way to be loved is to be lovely, the bond between friends can be stronger than that of relatives, Christ is a friend to all believers and so we must follow His example to be a better friend.
The Value of a Friend (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Everyone needs to be encouraged, without a friend, accomplishments are vain. Having someone to lean on is better than being alone, it's a stronger union for success and safety, must importantly having that union with Christ. Having like minded people around you for advice, comfort, and praise fellowship with Christ is true friendship. Weather if it's in a marriage, friendship, business relationship we are always going to need that backbone, someone who is willing to hold you up, keep you going, be there no matter what, if you include Jesus in the relationship, His love is stronger than anything, His love is the perfect love and the perfect friendship.
Believers Enjoy Friendship with God (Romans 5:10)
Before God created us he had a plan to save us from our sins. Through Christ death on the cross our relationship with God was restored, our sins alienated us from God, so we were no longer enemies of God but His friends, Jesus' life is a pledge of our eternal life.
"The living Lord of all, will complete the purpose of his dying love, by saving all true believers to the uttermost. Having such a pledge of salvation in the love of God through Christ, the apostle declared that believers not only rejoiced in the hope of heaven, and even in their tribulations for Christ's sake, but they gloried in God also, as their unchangeable Friend and all-sufficient Portion, through Christ only." Matthew Henry
True Friendship in the Bible
David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-3, 20:17, 42; 2 Samuel 1:26)
Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17)
Paul’s Ministry Friends (Romans 16:3-5; 2 Corinthians 2:12-13; Philippians 2:25; Colossians 4:7, 14; 2 Timothy 1:2-4; 1 Philemon)
The Bible also gives a few warnings about friends. A friend who is as close as your own soul has the power to entice you to sin (Deut. 13:5-7). And a friend who turns against you is unbearable – much worse than an enemy (Psalm 55:12-14). And, when it comes to true friendship, the Bible implies that numbers do not always mean safety (Proverbs 18:23-24). Just because you have many friends, that does not mean that they are all faithful and true.
No comments:
Post a Comment