WHERE DID ALL MY FRIENDS GO?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content
with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I
leave you; never will I forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever had friends who were ‘right there with you’ until
something bad happens? You could be going through financial
difficulties, loss of a job, developed a bad sickness, had a wayward
child, made a bad decision that created a huge problem, or any
number of other things.

When things are going good, people enjoy being around you, but
when things are bad, some friends may separate themselves from
you. Some want to be around you as long as you can do something
for them, but whenever you need them to do something for you,
they start to avoid being around you, especially if it inconveniences
them. Thank the Lord for those friends who remain the same throughout.

We could speculate the rationale for those friends who disappear
and come up with all kinds of possible reasons. However, the
important thing for us to do is to appreciate those who will be
with us at all times. This might be a difficult task with people,
but not with God.

We need to think about the times when we were having difficulties.
Who were the friends who remained our friends throughout? Who
were the ones who checked on us often? Who were the friends who
prayed for us? Those are the friends who ‘stick close to us’.
    One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
    (Proverbs 18:24)

When we think of those types of friends, we should ask ourselves
“What kind of friend am I being to them?” Am I ‘with them’ when
they are going through difficult times? Do I show concern for
them, and more importantly, do I pray for them?

No matter what is going on in the life of a believer, God will never
leave or forsake His children. What a comforting reassurance that
is for Christians! Friends may or may not desert us. We need to be
careful about making ‘things’ our friend. If our friend is money, we
could lose it all in the blink of an eye.

God tells us to be content with what He provides. This doesn’t mean
that we should not strive to be successful, but amassing a large sum
of money should never be an ‘obsession’ for us. When it is, we are in
essence saying, “Lord, I don’t trust You enough”.

The same statement can be assumed whenever we fail to return God’s
tithes. When money and things become our obsession, it is unlikely
that we will obey His command to bring our tithes and offerings to
His house. Listen to the words of the Psalmist who placed his trust
in God.
    “I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
     and fulfill my vows to you.” (Psalm 66:13)

ACTION:
Have you made a decision to trust the Lord as your friend? Do you have
the same attitude as the Psalmist regarding the One who provides you
with all you have? Don’t allow Satan to convince you that everything
you have is a result of your efforts, and yours alone. Never forget that
God gives you the abilities to accomplish whatever you do.

Since it all comes from Him, shouldn’t you express your faith and trust
in Him by obeying His command to bring Him your tithes and offerings?
When tithing becomes a joy rather than an obligation, then you are
tithing with the right attitude and are growing closer to the Lord.
    Each of you should give what you have decided in
    your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
    for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise that You
will never leave or forsake me. When it seems that I can
turn to no one else, I know that I can always turn to You.
Help me to turn to You in the good times as well as the bad.
Convict me of the importance of expressing my faith and
trust in You through my tithes and offerings. Forgive me
for selfishly keeping Your tithes to myself and becoming
a thief of what belongs to You. Show me how to live a life
that communicates to others that I have placed my faith
and trust in You. I pray that You will guide me in all my
decisions. Make me aware of the times when I decide that
I cannot wait for You to provide me with the best, and decide
to pursue something of lesser value in my own strength.
Thank you for being with me at all times, and help me to
be a loyal friend to others.”

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