The Loyal Friend

THE LOYAL FRIEND

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverb18:24

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel. Proverb26:9

Introduction

It’s an amazing feeling when we have faith in a true friend. For most people it’s an everyday occurrence thankfully. Yet when we really get stuck a friend holds out for us, fills the gap and offers advice that sometimes we need to hear even though we don’t want too. Life isn’t all roses for most of us and there are times when we slip and fall by the way side and are blinded by the events. Friends are a marvellous invention of God and for most people they are likely to be a partner or close friend, others of us seem to have those that flit in and out at the right time in life. Whatever the reason they become the corner stone for our “moment” in life. During those long dark days they stand by you, hold your hand and most importantly they become intercessor for you. They carry the load when you are unable too. Once again God has made provision for us in a physical sense.

John 15 :9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I loved you. Greater love has no-one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. 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. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command love each other.

Love the Greatest Gift.

It’s a wonderful feeling being totally absurd by someone to love or indeed to be loved, in the physical sense but we know that we have many forms of it. Too love a partner or a child should not be confused with the love of certain things like Chocolate or cars.

The love of a friend to could be totally different from the above.

Yes I acknowledge that love and friendship go hand in hand and if you are fortunate to have such a relationship then cherish it and handle it with care and respect.

We must understand that God places us in relationships in the main. (I accept that this might not be the case for everyone.) We are not meant to be on our own though and don’t function at our best without the support of someone to share all our thoughts and cares with. In most cases this is the norm and works. It’s not much fun being on your own. Love is a wonderful gift and should be as it is meant to be. Not to be taken for granted, not to misuse or hurt however we do fall down and as the saying goes; hurt the ones we love. Human nature often is portrayed rather than God’s nature. It’s the latter we need to bring more into relationship.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord

Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged Colossians 3:18-21

The Importance of a Friend

Not everyone though is in families, or indeed can have children due to medical reasons but for all those people, God still makes provision to have some kind of fellowship. Friends are there to carry us through those dark and dismal days. They constantly lift us before the Lord in faithful prayer, watching out for us because when you are a lost soul you tend to wander off that narrow path way to glory. They keep you in the loop whilst you like stray sheep are caught up in the brambles of the world. One such friend has been my lamp helping me on the way again. Its friends like these that the writer in proverbs says; “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverb18:24.”

The verse suggested that these friends are rated on a higher plain than families in such cases. May my ray of light, continue to Glow for me too.