Have you ever had to walk alone down a dark and unlit street, a place where you might not normally go and as your footsteps echo from the walls around you, your imagination begins to take hold? Was that a sound of someone moving in that dark corner just ahead? You strain your eyes and when you shine your torch, all it does is to create even more strange shaped shadows.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

I have a lifelong friend who lives in Vancouver, Canada and I really do believe that the friendship that I share with him is one of the most valued blessings that God has given to us both. Life has been both good and bad to both of us and we have shared times of personal pain, sorrow, joy and happiness. This friendship has lasted through 40 years of trials, tribulation and triumph and I can say with certainty that the only thing that has prevented us from going our separate ways is the fact that both of us have accepted Jesus into our lives.

What does the Bible say about friendship?

Who is the friend that is unchangeable?

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.

Being a friend means being ready to help at any time of the day or night and what I have found to be true is that to find a friend, you have to first show that you are willing to be a friend. The verse tells us that a friend loves at all times, not only when things are going well but especially when things are not going well. At the same time we need to be aware that there are people who might appear to be good but are in fact be manipulative, scheming and self seeking.

Chasing popularity may be socially desirable but a person could become easily distracted from God’s plan for their lives and be led astray.

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Trying to be popular and socially acceptable has probably led to more heartbreak and suffering than anything else that can be thought of. How desperately do we spend our time and the fruits of our labour only to find out that there is always someone who has more and is seen to be more popular? One does not have to go far to see this happening and see how easy it is to get caught up in the moment. Where does all this effort get us?

The true friends that we have need to be treasured.

Proverbs 27:10

Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you – better a neighbour nearby that a brother far away.

Sometimes it seems as if good people are rare and when we do manage to find someone who we consider to be a friend we need to work at being a friend for that person. People will very often treat you in the same way as you treat them. So try hard not to take advantage, appreciate what they mean to you and above all show them that you care.

Don’t be afraid to look for help in places where you would not normally look. Sometimes you can find out that the person you least expect will turn out to be a good friend.

Motivation is a two way street.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another

Attendance at many seminars has exposed me to many different motivational sayings and I’m sure all of us can talk about one or another favourite saying and it’s not surprising to find that all the best sayings and methods of motivation can be found in the Bible.

Basically we need each other to be our friend, our guide, our mentor, our critic and inspiration. One thing that we can never hide regardless of how hard we try is a spirit of consideration and care for others.

We can grow through those we count as friends.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work.

Have you ever tried to make a fire using one piece of wood? Let’s face it, some things turn out better if you get someone to help you. Each one of has their own specialities and when we get to know people we find out what they are good at doing and what they like doing. We can’t all be brain surgeons or concert pianists but we can be very good at what we like doing. In the same way we need to remember that there just might be someone out there who is blessed in the same way and each of you can enhance the other’s performance.

Christ died for us, are we prepared to follow his example?

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this; that he lays down his life for his friends.

Laying down your life for your friends can be taken to mean that when you are asked to help, you do so immediately and without thought as to what your own needs are at that moment in time.

Time is the most valuable commodity that we have. When we gladly give this time without expecting anything in return, that is the time when we are “laying down our life” and being a true friend.

Prayer

Thank you Father for giving your Son to be our friend, you gave us a gift beyond measure and for that Lord we humbly give thanks. Help us Father to work towards the same attitude of self-sacrifice that Jesus showed us as he hung upon the cross. Lord you did not distinguish between good or bad but gave freely for sake of your love for even the least of us. The capacity for your love has neither depth nor height or breadth that can be measured and we stand in awe of the wonder of this. Although we have gone astray and have failed you in many ways you are still there for us Lord and we ask that you enable us to understand your purpose. Be with us and fill us with the knowledge of your indwelling presence for we know that you will work to draw people to us who are in need of your love in the same way as we are in need.

Accept this prayer Father in the name of your most holy Son Jesus who is the Christ.

Amen