Friends

Friends are some of life’s greatest treasures. The word “friend” in English, as in its Greek equivalent “philos” conveys the idea of loving and being loved.  There is something warm and pleasant about it.

The secret of success in one’s search for friends is found in the wisdom of Solomon who wrote: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly” (Proverbs 18:24).  Simple isn’t it? This concept if found in these lines:
I went out to find a friend,
But could not find one there,
Then I went out to be a friend,
And there were friends everywhere!

An English publication ran a contest seeking the best definition of a friend.  The winner was: “A friend — the one who walks in when the world walks out.”

That is true because. “A friend loves at all times….” (Proverbs 17:17)

A true friend is one who asks you how you are and listens to the answer.

A friend is one who doubles your joy and divides your sorrows.

True friends are like spaghetti, they stick together.

Life is a cookie and friends are the chocolate chips.

A true friend is one who watches as you make a mess of things and doesn’t react as though you have done a permanent job.

There is a little gospel song entitled, “Jesus is a friend of Mine.” That is a wonderful proven truth. Jesus gave insight as to how we can show we are friends of His: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15: 14 – 16)

Question, in light of that would Jesus call you His friend?

You can show you are His friend if you:
Make joy possible for those who walk in the shadow of sorrow.
Make goodness possible for those who stand in the darkness of temptation.
If you go forth day by day to minister and not to be ministered too.
If you let the message of your music become the harmony of your life.
If you share with others His love for them as for you.

Reflect,  “A man who has friends must himself be friendly….” The rest of that verse affords elevated thought, “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) That friend is Jesus. Develop your friendship with Him by studying His teachings and accepting His invitation to call on Him. That invitation and His phone number is: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” Jeremiah 33: 3.