Be the friend you hope to have.
“We rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God –
all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.” Romans 5:11 NLT
My thoughts and comments today are about, “the priority of friends.”
Priorities are essential not optional. I recognize three Biblical and irreplaceable priorities in my life. In this order, those priorities are: my faith, my family, and my friends. All are significant, but their order is important. Priorities clarify and simplify daily life. When you are right with God, you have the guidance of His Word and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to arrange all other relationships in their proper order.
When that personal, spiritual connection is lacking, other relationships can never reach their potential. Here is the basic, yet grand, truth. “The Father is the One who invited you into this wonderful friendship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 NLT. Be aware of this fact, “If your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God.” James 4:4 NLT.
This is true as well. Your family is a Godly assignment with eternal accountability. Family can either be your fulfilling joy or will become one’s greatest sorrow and regret. The Bible has much wisdom and guidance for the relationships of husbands and wives, as well as parents and children. Read Colossians 3:18-21 NIV/Ephesians 5:22-31 NIV. As your fellowship with God is the resource for your family relationships, those relationships have much to do with the potential quality of your personal friendships.
Now, let’s consider the priority of friends and friendships. God established the truth that, “two are better than one.” Solomon advised that righteous friendships make you stronger, more secure, satisfied, and successful. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV. I have found friends and friendships to be foundationally vital to health and happiness. Friends also are essential not optional. Life is much less without the company and fellowship of true friends.
God’s Word provides a lot of wisdom about friends and friendships. The Bible presents many exemplary friendships – Moses and Joshua, David and Jonathan, Daniel with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Paul and Barnabas, Peter, James, and John, as well as Jesus and the Disciples. Jesus elevated friendship when He said to His disciples, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 NIV.
Friendships are based on a simple, Biblical principle. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Proverbs 18:24 NKJV. Be the friend you hope to have. Your friends will reflect you or, for better or worse, you will reflect the character of your friends. The quality of friendships entrusted to you reflect the friend you have chosen to be to others. I am extremely grateful for the many friends who have generously included me in their lives.
When I learned the power of this principle, I told a life-long friend, “Thank you for not allowing me to become what I would have been without you in my life.” There are many people to whom I could say the same. Without the principal and priorities of faith, family and friends, I could not become the disciple, husband and father, and friend I want to be. I am far better than I would have been without them. I hope my God, my family, and my friends would feel the same about our relationship.
This is the Biblical origin and foundation for all of this. “For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.” Romans 5:10-11 NLT. The spiritual health of your family and the authenticity of your Godly friendships rest upon and flow from the depth and steadfastness of your, “wonderful new relationship with God.”
Today, I pray for you to enjoy life-affirming friendships born of the friend you choose to be.
Christian Communications 2018-817
Website and archives: allenrandolph.com