Best Friends…

Reading Job is a good thing for it reminds me that not all trouble that others get into is caused by something they did wrong. Job’s ‘friends’ started out in silence because of the shock of seeing this righeous man in such terrible condition. He had lost his children and all his possessions, then his health. However their empathy soon turned to judgment. He must have done something sinful or God would not have treated him like that. Job was trying to figure out the reasons too, but only angered them by claiming innocence. His friends were not good friends.

Then I read another devotion, this too was about friends. The writer said that ideally each of us needs three kinds of friends: one that we can enjoy being with, one that we can rely on, and one we can help. 

The writer goes on with examples. David and Jonathan hung out together. “… the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Samuel 18:1) Abraham was called “the friend of God” (James 2:23). God is the friend who will stick with me when others walk out, the one I can hang onto. He will bring friends into my life to help me through the tough times and others who I can help.

Jesus is called “the friend of sinners” so He is my best friend who fills the role of the first two  as someone to be with (He will never leave me), and to rely on (He will never forsake me), but is not the one I can help. He is my helper, enabling me to serve Him by serving others. 

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. (Psalm 25:14)

Our church leaders speak often about the importance of community, of living and doing things together as family in the kingdom of God. The key word is together. Putting this idea of friendship into the mix, I’m experiencing the blessing of those to hang out with, those I can rely on, and those I can help. This is a God-thing, the intention of much of the New Testament and certainly in the OT where I am warned also about unworthy friendships:

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, (Proverbs 22:24)

The NT also warns about another kind of friendship to avoid: “. . . . Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

Out of the three kinds that are biblical, today has already given me time with a friend I can rely on, and we discussed mutual ways to help other friends. I sensed the will of God running through our conversation. How lovely!

PRAY: Lord, help me to be there when others need me. I would love to be accused one day of being a friend of sinners and, most of all, am thankful that I can be Your friend. This means we can talk anytime, anywhere, about anything. I can rely on You always and when I obey You, I’m not helping You. I can help others only because You are helping me. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for there is great delight in this. (Psalm 119:35)  Amen.