Dilemma

Coming home from Sunday morning services, I faced a dilemma – which of the verses / topics would be today’s blog – and in which order should the others come? Yes – there were that many good verses, thoughtful topics and thought-provoking ideas. So many that I decided to start with  the simplest: friendship.

It would be so easy to start with “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” but there are several verses I’d like to share before we get there.

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 KJV)

Now, a friend may criticize (helpfully), may even chastise, and certainly is open to offering advice. Friendships are built on honesty and grow through adversity. If someone separates during these events, perhaps it was an acquaintance, not a friend.

The Preacher wrote of bonds between people:

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:8-10 KJV)

Two are better than one – but we can have more than one friend:

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 KJV)

Proverbs has more about friends, too:

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)

Do we understand how to show ourselves friendly? Are we giving friendship before expecting anything – or are we investing, demanding a return?

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. (Proverbs 27:10 KJV)

Keep our friends. That’s awesome advice. We can forsake them, but we will regret that. Which brings me back to the hymn:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

Yes – talk to our friends. That includes speaking to God in prayer. Getting to know Him through reading His word. Look to understand verses such as:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:13-14 KJV)

An awareness of His command are necessary to have His friendship, yet He laid down His life for anyone who would be His friend before we had that understanding.

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)