5.18.20 Friends
In the course of our lifetime, we will have many friends. I was always so amazed that wherever my husband and I went, he always saw someone he knew, that he had some sort of history with. I have had many friends but he had something special. He kept in contact with those he knew and those he counted as friends. He was a wonderful friend.
I am a loyal and faithful friend but I am also a friend for a season and a time. Most of us are. This made me think on this subject for the last few days and I would like to share with you what the Lord has shared with me.
A man that has friends must first show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother
A few kinds of friends:
Faithful and true:
Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Forgiving:
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.
Wise:
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
Encourager/edifier:
That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Gracious/kind:
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Judgmental/critical:
My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Romans 14:10-13 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
Deceitful:
But test everything; hold fast what is good.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Anger/temper:
Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back
Mischievous/mischief:
He devises mischief upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil
.
Slanderer/gossiper:
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Fair weather friend:
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
In a nutshell, here’s the summary. …......…
These are just a few of the types of friends you may come across in your lives. Use wisdom in whom you select to let into your close circle, they will have influence over you and will impact your life for good or bad. On the other side, you need to be the kind of friend you would want in your life, for yourself. You will have casual friends,acquaintances, some-time friends, close friends, and best friends. Select your friends well - you want friends that make you feels good about yourself and who will speak truth to you kindly; friends that will encourage and build you up; friends who will not judge you but support you; friends who will speak the things of God into your heart; friends who will want the very best for you. And you be that friend for them.
1 Corinthians 5:33 Be not deceived, bad company corrupts good character.
Amen.
-Pastor Sandra Matheson
www.olivebranchdiscipleshipministries.com
Comentarii