Friendship
Godly friendship reflects Christ’s sacrificial love
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17, KJV
Love is the keyword when it comes to friendship.
We are to love one another.
If you love your brother or sister and treat them as you yourself would like to be treated, then chances are your friendship will end up being a success.
But it is good to remember that not everyone is meant to be your close friend - use discernment.
A brother is also born for adversity.
There are times when you must endure alone, but this is not the case every time.
Sometimes God sends a brother or a sister your way exactly at the time when you need them.
And this is one of the results of having a godly friend:
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17, KJV
As iron sharpens iron, so does a Christian brother to another.
We are here to build each other up.
And we do it by accident, or on purpose as we’re instructed by the Holy Spirit.
God knows our situation, and He knows how to help us.
Sometimes it ends up being like this:
“7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”
Hebrews 12:7-9, KJV
God chastises those whom He loves.
And this is exactly what our brothers and sisters come to do in our lives from time to time.
And this happens usually without their knowledge - it is just God using them for His purposes.
Do not grow tired of the chastisement.
It is for your own good.
This is also an important function of a friend:
“9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, KJV
Two are better than one.
Being alone is difficult.
And if the loner ends up in a difficult situation, it is not easy to get out of it just by him- or herself.
It helps to have someone be there for you to help you when you end up in trouble.
Then we have this verse:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13
The greatest love we can show to another is to lie down our life for them
This is exactly what Jesus did.
And it is what we are to do if God puts us in such situation.
To die for others is an honour.
This life is temporary after all, and we’re looking forward to the eternal life that comes after this world comes to its end.
Whether you or I end up in this situation, I do not know.
But I do know we should love our neighbour as ourselves.
And we are to do the same to our friends.
So, let’s love our friends like Jesus loves us.
I hope you’ve been blessed by today’s message.
I wish you a wonderful rest of your day.
Reflection:
What qualities make a godly friend?
How can you be a better friend to those around you?
Prayer Suggestion:
”Lord, thank You for the gift of friendship. Teach me to be loyal, loving, and Christlike in my relationships. Help me to be the kind of friend who encourages and strengthens others in faith. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”