Friend or Foe?
“he often refreshed me…when he was in Rome he searched hard for me until he found me. ”
2 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)
It’s good to have friends who love us and try to encourage us. Those who suffer (as the Apostle Paul did) appreciate friends who come alongside to support them.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.“ Galatians 6:2
If you’re suffering alone, turn to the One who also suffered alone. Friends had forsaken Him, and one had betrayed Him. You can be sure that He understands and feels your sorrow.
“…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds…“ (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)
Even when we’re not suffering and life is going well, encouragement and support from friends is welcome. Our Christian friends (our brothers and sisters in Christ), can come alongside us and not only help us overcome temptations, but also to encourage us to grow in our faith—as we can also encourage them.
Such friends should exhibit fruits of the Spirit, including “…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)
While we desire friendship, we should not open ourselves up to just anyone, no matter how kind, clever, or funny they are. They may give us advice that (while it seems helpful), may cause us to sin. When David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar (the sister of David’s son Absalom), he took advice from Jonadab, a “very shrewd man”.
“And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.“ (2 Samuel 13:22 NIV) The “friendly” advice from Jonadab ended up with Amnon being murdered by Absalom’s command.
Having a friend to confide in can be a blessing, but we’re to be careful. “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26 NIV)
Having a friend you can be accountable to can also be a blessing. When you’re down, your friend can pick you up.
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.“ (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NIV)
Of course, our most faithful friend (the One Who gave His life to save us), is Jesus Himself.
“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. “ (John 15:14-15 NIV)