Faithfulness Faithful Friends
Wednesday August 24, 2016
Who do you consider to be a faithful friend and why? Is it someone who has stood with you in the ups and downs of life, who knows your frailties, and still loves you, or is it someone who is just easy to hang out with?
What type of report would your friends give you if someone asked them what you were really like? We are instructed in the Bible to love our neighbours as ourselves and that includes our friends. Do you treat your friends in a loving and gracious way? Are you always kind when you interact with your friends? Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:8-9 NLT)
Do you normally greet your friends with encouraging words or do you complain and grumble about life? How easy is it for us to share gossip or something told to us in confidence with friends? Gossiping, even with friends, shows a lack of integrity on our part. It can also cause the breakdown of friendships as we will be known as one who cannot be trusted with things close to the heart of another. Jesus tells us we will be accountable for every idle word.A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” (Matthew 12:35-37 MSG)
While He was here on earth, Jesus loved, cared for, and prayed for His friends even though He knew the offences they would commit against Him. It’s hard to pray for friends who hurt us. However, if we ask God, He will help us be a faithful friend to those around us, and will enable us to pray for those who offend us. To be a faithful friend costs a lot. To have a faithful friend is priceless. ©2016 Partners in Hope
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