A LOYAL AND DEPENDABLE FRIEND IS A BLESSING FROM GOD

BIBLE PASSAGE:
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God,
as we walked about among the worshipers. 
(Psalm 55:13-14)

MEDITATION:
Charles Hadden Spurgeon (19th Century English Preacher) said, 
    “Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have 
      failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend”.

A friend really knows us:
    “Somebody who knows all about us and loves us anyway”.
    “The one who steps in, when the whole world steps out”.
    “A friend is one who never gets in the way, 
      except when we are on the way down”.

A friend is someone who loves us:
    “A friend loves at all times”. (Proverbs 17:17)
A friend loves us when all is going well, and when things are going bad.
    “Greater love has no one than this, 
      that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
Note: “laying down our life”, could mean giving up our time to help a friend.

A friend has things in common with us:
    We may not agree on everything, but we respect our differing opinions.
    Two friends (Jehu and Jehonadab) were going to war to fight a common 
    enemy and Jehu basically asked Jehonadab if they had the same mindset.
        After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was 
        on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, “Are you in accord with me, 
        as I am with you?” “I am,” Jehonadab answered. “If so,” said Jehu, “give me 
        your hand.” So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot. (2 Kings 10:15)
    Note: 
        We should remember that to enjoy a friend, we need 
        to have more in common than disliking the same people.

A friend protects us:
    Johathan protected David from his father Saul, who wanted to kill him.
    (1 Samuel 19:1-24, 20:1-42)

A friend makes us happy:
    Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; and the pleasantness 
    of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9)
Because they know us so well, friends know what can bring us happiness.
With good friends, we can enjoy simple things; we can enjoy just spending
time with them.

A friend encourages us:
    Onesiphorus was a friend devoted to keeping 
    Paul’s spirits high while he was in a Roman jail. 
        May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he 
        often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. (2 Timothy 1:16)

We enjoy being with a friend:
    Paul looked forward to being with the Philippian church 
    because he remembered their fellowship.
        I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, 
        I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the 
        first day until now (Philippians 1:3-5)

A friend helps us when we are in trouble:
    The Good Samaritan was that kind of friend - he went the extra mile 
    to help a wounded man on the road to Jericho, when others ignored him. 
    (read Luke 10:30-35)

A friend is loyal:
    “A friend loves at all times”. (Proverbs 17:17)
    They are always available when we need them.
    They will defend us whenever others disrespect us.

Sam Davis (a Confederate spy) was captured by the Union Army, 
was placed before the firing squad, and was told, 
    “If you will give us the name of the man who gave
     you the information we found on you, you may go free”.
Sam replied:  
    “If I had a thousand lives I would give
     them all before I would betray a friend”. 

A friend brings out the best in us:
    “As iron sharpens iron; so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17)
Henry Ford:
    “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me”.
Constructive criticism from a friend is beneficial, 
but constant criticism jeopardizes a relationship.
Robert Lynd:  
    “Friendship will not stand the strain of very much good advice for very long”.

Barnabus was the type of friend that brings out the best in others. After
Paul was saved, many Christians were not sure his conversion was 
genuine, and Barnabus went out of his way to find Paul and work with  
him until he became a well-known and respected Christian leader.

A friend is interested in our spiritual well-being:
    Job wanted that kind of friend: 
        “My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf 
          of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” (Job 16:21).

Later, when he prayed for his friends,
Job was rewarded for practicing what he preached.
    After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes 
    and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

False friends will not help us in times of trouble:
    Look at the contrasts of a man with no friends (John 5:1-9),
    and a man with caring friends (Luke 5:17-26). 

When God allowed Satan to test Job with problems and plagues, 
his friends deserted him. Eventually Job brcame frustrated with 
with the lack of encouragement from his friends.
    “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, 
     all of you! Will your long-winded speeches never end?” (Job 16:2-3a)

Here is what he said about them:
    “they scorned me” (Job 16:10)
    “they forgot me” (Job 19:14)
    “they detest me; they turned against me” (Job 19:19)
    “they failed to pity me” (Job 19:21)
Job felt that failure to help a friend was not pleasing to God. (Job 6:14)

Sometimes people acquire false friends through:
    Money (Proverbs 19:4, 14:20)
    Entertainment (Luke 15:13)
    Sex (Proverbs 5:3-13)
    Flattery (Proverbs 29:5)
 
In summary, a friend knows us, loves us, has things in common with us, 
protects us, makes us happy, helps us when we are in trouble, is loyal, 
encourages us, brings out the best in us, and is interested in our spiritual 
condition. We should cherish the good friends we have, and not take them 
for granted. In order to have a friend, we need to be a friend.

ACTION:
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine how the Lord wants us to serve Him.
If we are struggling with what He wants us to do, we can start by being a sincere
friend to someone. In being a true friend, we learn how to make personal sacrifices, 
control our tongues, pray intercessory prayers, and encourage others.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift if friendships. Help me to 
develop a greater appreciation for the true friends in my life. Help 
me to be a better friend to others. Thank You, Lord, for being a 
friend to everyone; help us to cherish Your friendship above all others.”

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