Who would you consider your best friends? Maybe its someone who you have known since your youth and try to stay in touch with on a regular basis, or maybe its someone you have only come to know in more recent times, but with whom you have had deep conversations and developed a lasting friendship. It may be someone you don’t see for years at at time, but still enjoy spending time with when you do get together. There are lots of ways to define our friends, but what is the common thread between most of them? Usually there are some common interests and a mutual trust. There are definitely limits we establish to how much we are willing to share with each other, but for most guys, we don’t need to regularly spill our hearts to each other to maintain a friendship. In fact, we can even sit for long periods of time watching a game, riding in a car, or fishing, and not feel at all awkward. What are some of your most memorable times shared with your friends over the years?
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
If you won the lottery next week, do you think more people would claim you as a friend? We all probably have hundreds of acquaintances we know, but don’t go out of our way to talk to regularly, but would you call them all friends? We might even have a thousand or more Facebook ‘friends’, but most we may not have even talked with in years face to face. For me, I consider most people I have had an in person meeting and relationship with at some point a friend. I’d be willing to talk or correspond with them on some level if they ever asked, and be willing to give up some of my time to do so. I wouldn’t consider most of these close or deep friendships, but we have enough things in common to keep us connected. I would even consider myself closer friends with some people I haven’t seen in 10 years, than with many people who attend my current church. How often do you develop friendships with new people who enter your life? How long does it take for you to trust them?
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15
I have a group of friends and church members going on a short trip this next week, and I’m genuinely happy for them. For some, its the first time they will be away from their families in years, and a little outside their comfort zone and normal routines. I’m not jealous, but can imagine a day when I am able to do this with my wife, but not yet. We talk about a time away from home, but haven’t planned one yet. Two of my best friends for decades have gone through very difficult times with their families in the past few years. I have spent hours talking on the phone, pray, and offer suggestions to help, but there is not always something I can do to fix these situations, despite how much I want to, but I don’t turn my back on them. Then I also ask, to what degree do I consider Jesus my friend? How often do I go to Him for counsel and share my personal struggles? Maybe we do, or did at some point, but have grown apart, but a true friend is always there for us. May you find that friendship you once had and be a good friend to others in need as well!
Can we find a friend so faithful…Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13
Yours in Christ,
Clark
