ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12 – Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIPS. Michael Haykin recently published a book titled Iron Sharpens Iron: Friendship and the Grace of God. In the opening of chapter one, he quoted an influential pastor of the 17th century, Samuel Hopkins from his sermon “A Discourse on Christian Friendship” preached in 1767. The preacher said, “Friendship affords the highest and most sweet enjoyment that is to be had in this life, or that rational creatures are capable of.”
Friends. How would we define such a relationship in the context of Christianity? First, let’s look at what it is not. Christian friendships are not like Facebook friends, people we wave at while driving through our neighborhoods, co-workers who we acknowledge and know only in the workplace, or other people in our circles that are more acquaintances than friends. True Christian friendships are not relationships at a safe distance (not getting into each other’s lives) nor do they exist based on shallow, worldly foundations. When it comes to Biblical friends, two images emerge from scripture.
First, Biblical friendships are a knitting together of souls – “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known (Deuteronomy 13:6). Notice what Moses states is a friend – one who is as your own soul. This is illustrated in the friendship of Jonathan and David – As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (1 Samuel 18:1). As Haykin writes in his book, “The privileges and responsibilities of a Biblical friend involve intimacy, loyalty, and a strong emotional attachment.” Does this define us? And that cannot be restricted to our physical families to include spouses. The body of Christ is to foster these friendships rooted in our union in Christ.
Another image found in the Bible helping us understand Biblical friendships is the important of “face-to-face” encounters. If we are Christians, and living out the Christian life in somewhat isolation, maybe an hour on a Sunday morning but not investing in other believers, we are in trouble, despite what we may think. There are no “lone ranger” Christians. To be one is a recipe for spiritual disaster and defeat. We must be together – physically – to foster Christian friendships. The example of such a friendship is the Lord and Moses – Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11a). We again listen to Haykin from his book, “This depiction of friendship as a face-to-face encounter implies conversation, a sharing of confidences, and consequently, a meeting of minds, goals, and direction.” Are we building those type of friendships with other believers? If this is what it means to practice Biblical friendship, let’s strive to do so! Oh, one final thought. Today’s scripture also provides a beautiful picture of true Biblical friendships!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to invest in Your people as a true friend who loves sacrificially and consistently.”
QUOTE: “Don’t take for granted the blessing of true Christian friendship and as such be one to others.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim