Friendship: February 1, 2010

February 1. TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2010

FRIENDSHIP

DEFINITION:

A state of attachment to someone by affection or esteem; close association; supportive or well wishing.

SCRIPTURE:

“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17.

“A man that has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The above verses from Proverbs define a friend as one who loves at all times and sticks closer than a brother. The key ingredient in a true friendship is loyalty. A friend that loves at all times will be there for you in good times and in bad times and will stick with you through thick and thin.

People who base their friendship on what they can get out of it are not being real friends. They will leave you as soon as there is nothing to benefit them in the relationship. They are what we call “fair weather friends.” Genuine friendship means being available to help in times of trouble and distress. We can know a lot of people, perhaps some very well, but often it is only in a time of trouble that we will know if they are really a friend.

We must consider what kind of a friend we are. Are we “fair weather friends” or a friend that is loyal and loves at all times?

The story is told by Edgar A. Guest of a rich man who was almost friendless. His life had been one long series of bickering and lawsuits. Friendships evidently meant nothing to this man as he was busy making his fortune. Late in his life he met a man with whom he had a bitter quarrel many years prior. The wealthy man said to the other man, “I do not understand it. Why do you have hundreds of friends and I have really none to whom I can turn?” The old acquaintance replied, “Sir, I was busy making friends years ago, while you were busy making money.”

In this age of “every man for himself,” Christians need to learn to go the extra mile to develop friendships by offering encouragement and a helping hand to those who need it.

Jesus commandment to us as Christians is that we love one another. Friendship is based on love. What we see in the world today is so called friends turning on their friends by criticizing and tearing them down verbally behind their back. This is often the case with those who do not know the Lord and do not understand that true friendship is based on love.

Paul advises us in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only that which is helpful in building others up.” How important it is that as Christians we will be the kind of friend that is helpful and builds others up.

Abraham Lincoln said that the better part of one’s life consists of building and keeping friendships.

In Isaiah 41:6-7, Isaiah is encouraging and comforting God’s people when he said, “Everyone helped his neighbor, and said to his brother, be of good courage! So the craftsman encouraged the Goldsmith; he who smoothes with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil. ”

A former Vice President of the United States once said that “the impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.” That is being a friend and experiencing real friendship.

Mark Twain said that friendship is only purchased with friendship.

We have referred to Abraham quite a bit these last days but in James 2:23, James, the half brother of Jesus is discussing faith without works being dead. He refers to Abraham saying that Abraham believed in God and he was called the friend of God. This is probably the highest calling that one can have being called the friend of God.

Take a few minutes now and evaluate first your relationship with God. Are you a friend of God that communicates with Him daily? True friends are known to communicate daily and this communication daily will strengthen your friendship with your Lord. It is the Lord that works in us through His Holy Spirit to give us a tender heart for others. He alone can help us to be a friend that loves at all times.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this very thing that He which has begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

PRAYER:

I ask You to give me a spirit of love and concern for all those around me today. Help me then to be observant to the needs of my neighbors so I can show friendship.