Two weeks ago we started our series, “What’s the Point?” We learned that discovering the POINT is really about realizing our PURPOSE!
Proverbs 19:21: “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail” (NLT).
Last week we discussed that the 1st point of life is to DISCOVER GOD! In order to fully discover God we should read the bible, study the bible, and memorize the bible.
James 1:22-25: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (NIV).
Tonight I want to talk about the 2nd point of life … DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS!
The very first thing that God said was not good was for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18).
God totally understood the need for us to have friends!
Okay … before we get started let me give you a TOP TEN list … I haven’t done this in a while so this should be fun ..
The Top Ten Signs you have No Friends.
10. Not even Tom on Myspace acknowledges you as a friend.
9. 2:45 is known as “wedgie time” at school.
8. You don’t know the words to Happy Birthday.
7. You own and operate all 16 teams in your fantasy football league.
6. Friendster voted you “Loser of the Week.”
5. You have to offer a $100 prize for people to visit your blog.
4. Having a Super Bowl party means dressing up your dogs in sweaters and tying them to the furniture.
3. You are one of the five best solitaire players in the world.
2. At your funeral, the entire eulogy is, "Yep. He’s dead."
1. Your only IM buddy is your mom and even she blocks you.
Whether we want to admit it or not friends are very important in our life.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up” (NIV).
We need friends for several reasons.
• We need friends to comfort us when we are sad.
• We need friends to enjoy life with.
• We need friends to give us good advice.
• We need friends to show us love and respect.
• We need friends to listen to our problems and to help us think of ways to solve them.
• We need friends because that is the way God made us … relational!
Let me give you some principles about friends.
1. Friends are like a BIG HOUSE – without them life is empty with them life is fulfilling.
Matthew Perry, one of the co-stars of “Friends” said in a behind the scenes interview: “It all starts with a SPIRITUAL CONNECTION with something bigger than you. That’s where the stuff of life is … if you don’t have happiness inside and you don’t think of others first, you’ll be lonely in a big house.”
I don’t know about you, but I used to think “Just me and God” – that’s all I need, but that is so contrary to the Word of God …
What was the first thing that God said was “not good?” For man to be alone (Genesis 2:18).
Adam had God, but he also needed a friend. Someone to share and enjoy life with!
Good friends brings fulfillment … while bad friends bring frustration!
Proverbs 18:24 says, “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend is closer than a brother.”
Aristotle once said, “Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.”
2. Friends are like elevators – they will take you up or bring you down.
Sophie and Shirley, two elderly widows in a Florida adult community, are curious about the latest arrival in their building -- a quiet, nice looking gentleman who keeps to himself.
Shirley says, "Sophie, you know I’m shy. Why don’t you go over to him at the pool and find out a little about him. He looks so lonely."
Sophie agrees, and later that day at the pool, she walks up to him and says, "Excuse me, mister. I hope I’m not prying, but my friend and I were wondering why you looked so lonely."
"Of course I’m lonely, he says, "I’ve spent the past 20 years in prison."
"You’re kidding! What for?"
"For killing my third wife. I strangled her."
"What happened to your second wife?"
"I shot her."
"And, if I may ask, your first wife?"
"We had a fight and she fell off a bridge."
"Oh my," says Sophie. Then turning to her friend on the other side of the pool, she yells,
"you’re never going to believe this, Shirley. He’s single."
Have you ever made a bad friendship choice! I would probably say we all have.
Choose your friends very carefully!
I believe there are 2 types of friends in our lives …
1. Drainers – these are the friends that suck the life out of you – it’s almost as if you were just hit by a Semi Truck after you finish a conversation with them.
2. Sustainers – these are the friends that encourage you and build you up – it’s always a joy to speak with these friends … you NEVER avoid these friends!
Make sure that your friends BRING YOU UP … and NOT TEAR YOU DOWN!
1 Corinthians 15:33 reads, “… bad company corrupts good character.”
3. Friends are like the Friday forecast – they will show you your future.
Life Principle: We always reflect those who are closest to us!
Who do you mirror? You will become a perfect reflection of those you spend the most time around.
Just think for a minute … what do you want to look like?
If you want to be successful, find close friendship with successes.
If you want to be caring, hang out with compassionate people.
If you want to be more like Christ, spend time with those who spend time with Christ.
CONCLUSION
One of the points of life and the reason why we are here is TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS.
The most important friendship of your life – YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD … God wants to be your friend … last week we talked about DISCOVERING GOD … we learned that God wants to have a FRIENDSHIP with us.
If God is not your friend … pray this prayer tonight … “God, I ask you to forgive me of my sins … become my closest friend. I want to be your best friend.”
If you prayed that prayer you are a friend of God … please see one of the leaders at the end of the meeting tonight.
Maybe you are struggling with …
• No friends
• Bad friends
• Broken friendships
Right now in your heart ask God to help you make the right decisions in your friendships.
