Thankful For Friends Series

Thankfulness for Friends

Sermon by CH(CPT) Keith J. Andrews

All scripture marked ESV: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Philemon 4 reads;

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, (Phm 4)

In the Army we know too well what friendship truly means.

It is said that when all is said and done, we at the Soldier level don’t fight for any political cause we fight for our buddies to the left and the right.

So when we think of our friends, when we pray for them do we thank God for them?

We see in this passage that Paul is writing to his friend Philemon.

Philemon was an owner of a slave named Onesimus. He is referenced beginning in verse 10. Philemon and Onesimus became believers of Christ under Paul’s preaching.

Philemon was converted first, then Paul runs into Onesimus in prison and this letter is a letter to reconcile the two together.

We see in these first verses of the letter that Paul was close to Philemon. They have mutual friends as seen in verse 23 and he looks forward to see him Philemon again as seen in verse 22. They are friend. Paul even uses the words brothers throughout the letter.

So on one hand, we have the friendship between Philemon and Paul.

On the other hand, we have the friendship of Onesimus and Paul. Paul is willing to go to bat for this escaped slave and thief. So, Paul writes to his friend Philemon to begin the process of reconciliation.

In this letter and in this passage specifically, Paul expresses his gratitude for Philemon.

This morning, I want us to look at our prayer life under the microscope of thanksgiving. And ask the question to you; are you bringing your friends before God and thanking God for them?

Is this a pattern in your life? Or are you so focused on yourself, that you don’t have time to thank God for your friends. You will pray for them when they are sick—but you don’t take the time to thank God for them.

This reminds me of a sentence form Mathew.

Matthew 5:46

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Mt 5:46, ESV)

Even the unbelievers pray for their friends when they are sick. But, we are to be different. We are not to take the friends we have for granted. We are to thank the Lord for them.

So first of all I want you to ask the question;

1. Are you thankful for the people that God has placed in your path?

This is a hard pinpoint question that only you can answer. Are you even thankful for those friends that you have.

This week I scrolled through some websites that listed what people were thankful for:

Katherine, age 9 says “ I am thankful for my mom, friends, teacher because they help me. If you ask why well here how it goes my mom helps me do my homework. Next, my friends help me when I am hurt. Last, my teacher helps me learn about things. That’s what I am thankful for. “

Christopher, age 12 says;

“I am thankful for my wonderful family!

that even includes you who reads this cause you will have a wonderful family that you love one day and in a way we are

close to each other. “

(http://www.bethanyroberts.com/IAmThankfulFor.htm)

Vicky Reyes. Age 12 says “I am thankful for...: I am thankful for having such nice teachers at B.F Grady Elementary school because when someone is sick they are there for you. and best of all for having such a nice teacher in 5th grade which is Mrs.Suzan Walker. I like when she say that. that we are good students in her class. It is so much fun at B.F Grady Elementary School. and what wonderful teachers at B.F.Grady Elementary School.

Camila age 8 says “I am thankful for...: I am thankful for my mom and dad and my sister because they are loving and caring and giving. I am also thankful for my moms job to buy the house and food for me to eat. I am also thankful for a nice family. I am also thankful for friends and family that are nice to me. I am also thankful for everything in my life that God gave me. I am also thankful for my pet named Mia.” (http://www.alphabet-soup.net/hol/thankful.html)

We can learn so much from children. They aren’t burdened by the baggage that we are soon find ourselves under. These children are thankful for those that God has placed in their path.

And, as demonstrated in this passage in Philemon so should we. Paul says;