Hi how are you all today? I am well and have had a good week. It consisted of work, a cousins reunion on my mums side and my sister has come for a visit. How was your week?
In this blog I want to look at the subject of friendship and what the Bible has to say about it.
We will also look at one of the examples in the Bible of friends – David and Jonathan.
But first, what does the Bible say? In Ecclesiastes 4:12, it states:
12 By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped
Have you ever been in a situation where everything seems to be coming against you? Then you ask a friend to pray or seek a friend’s wisdom regarding the situation and it doesn’t feel as bad. That is what this verse is saying. Friends are necessary to support us and as a friend, we do the same.
Proverbs 17:17 in the Message Bible states:
17 Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
When we have a really good friend, we generally experience what the above verse states. A friend loves us through everything. We can count on the love of a good friend. When we feel lonely or sad, we need to remember that our friends love us regardless. It doesn’t matter if our house is messy, our hair is sticking up on end or we are wearing mismatched socks, a good friend will always love us. That is so comforting.
John 15: 11 to 15 in the Message Bible states:
11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
These verses tell us to love one another. This means our friends as well as others. Then it tells us to lay our lives down for our friends.
The earlier verses we looked at were how our friends are there for us; whereas now it is talking about our responsibility to them.
Then the next verse reveals the greatest friend we will have- Jesus and the way to be His friend. That is by obedience. Then what is the result, we will get the inside news of the Kingdom of God. Jesus will tell us what the Father tells Him. This is exciting and a privilege but also carries responsibility.
So let’s look at David and Jonathan’s friendship in the Bible.
In 1 Samuel 18:1 in the Message Bible, we see the start of their friendship.
18 By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend.
So what can we learn about friendship from this verse:
- They had a bond- this is what happens with us too. We meet someone and most times know they will be our friend by an unseen bond that occurs.
- They were committed to each other. Friendships are usually both ways. There is a commitment between two people- it is rarely one sided.
- They were an advocate. This means they spoke up for one another in a good way. Nobody could say a bad word against one of them or the other one would defend them.
David and Jonathan continued to be friends all their lives. However there came a day when they had to part because Jonathan’s father, the king, wanted to kill David. The following verse in 1 Samuel 21:42 in the Message Bible is the parting words of Jonathan:
42 Jonathan said, “Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God’s name, saying, ‘God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!’”
The last point I want to raise in relation to friendship is often our friendships affect the next generations for good.
I have a really good friend and we both are concerned and love each other’s children. Friendship is not meant to end but to continue.
So my question to all of us is, are we being a good friend?
Have a look at the four things above and seek God this week for the areas that need to be strengthened. Good friends love and support each other through their lifetime and is carried on into the generations.
Bless you and keep living the life God intended.
Karen
0 Comments