Be A Friend

Last Sunday I spoke on the subject That’s NOT What Friends Are For! Today let’s continue to think about friends and friendships. Most people would say they have friends. However, experts in behavioral psychology say that only one in five has a real friend. It may very well be that there are some who would claim to have friends who really only have casual friends, but not actual friends. But, whether we realize it or not, we all need true friends.
 
In scripture, we see the value of friendship. The Bible extols its virtue—
 
“A friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
 
“A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17).
 
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
 
It is refreshing to read the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians as he expresses the value of his friends to his own life and ministry. He says—
 
Regarding the Philippians, “Therefore, my dear friends…I am glad and rejoice with all of you” (Philippians 2:12, 17).
 
Regarding Timothy, “I have no one else like him” (Philippians 2:20).
 
Regarding Epaphroditus, “My brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier” (Philippians 2:25).
 
Paul knew the value of friends and we would be wise to know so as well. It is as the poet has written:
 
         Count your garden by the flowers,
         Never by the leaves that fall.
         Count your day by golden hours,
         Don’t remember clouds at all.
         Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
         Count your life with smiles, not tears,
         And with joy on every birthday,
         Count your age by friends, not years.
 
So do not forget the value of building friendships for a lifetime. Remember this: If you want a friend, then be a friend. More importantly, follow the example of your greatest friend. Jesus modeled how to live selflessly and sacrificially for those he called friends (John 15:15). Let’s be a friend like Him!
 
Devotedly yours,
 Pastor Ron