True Friendships

Today's readings are from Proverbs 27, 28, 29

I was struck today by the references to friendships. There are many different ways in which Proverbs refers to friendships. For example:

1. Friends are honest with each other, even when it hurts to be so:
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."
(Proverbs 27:5-6)

2. Friends help each other grow in maturity and grace:
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
(Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

3. Parents care should about who their kids friends are:
"The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Proverbs 12:26 NIV)

Also, along that same vein:
"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)

4. When times get tough, friends are the ones who stick with you through it all:
"A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity." (Proverbs 17:17 NIV)

One of the most difficult things that happen in life is the loss of real friends. People are more and more "lonely". The combination of our family mobility, the disintegration of family, the busy-ness of life, even the prosperity that allows us to purchase extra "toys" in life (hobbies, cars, vacation homes), all contribute to the loss of real friendships. I am not saying that it's wrong to be mobile, or to have a career/job that is enjoyable, or to have things to enjoy; but what I am convinced of, is that it's more and more possible to live without ever forging real friendships.

Jesus said of his disciples that they were his friends and that what marks our relationship with Him is our relationships with each other:
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:11-15 NIV)

What I love about the fellowship that I have the privilege to lead as a Pastor is that there are genuine friendships. Friends are better than church members! In friendships there is resilience. People "weather" life together. Not everything is good, and in fact, there are some very difficult aspects to life that friends go through together; but that is something that everyone of us needs to have. Now, how does a person gain friends? Be a friend and you'll find out.

Peace




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