Monday, July 19, 2010

Friendship--A Gift

Friend.


That word seems so simple, but can cause loneliness, joy, accountability, heartache.





Over the years I have had my fair share of "friends." Some have helped me on my path, and some, not so much. God gives us choice, so why not choose friends who have the same prize in mind as you?





What do you look for in the friendships you have right now?





A friend who is consistent?



A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17a)



A friend who is constant?



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 neighbor nearby than a brother far away. (Proverbs 27:10)



A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)



A friend who is loyal?



Read the following verses in 1 Samuel about Jonathan's loyalty to David: Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse (talking about David here) lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me for he must die!" Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Jonathan asked his father. (1 Samuel 20:30-32)



A friend who possesses openness and gives counsel?



Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9)



I challenge you to look at your "Friend-list." Should you "weed-out" some? Are you the issue? God knew we needed friends, or he wouldn't have given us the many examples throughout His Word.

No comments:

Post a Comment