Friendship—women gravitate to it and thrive with it. Men shrink from it but without it shrivel up and die. And for teenagers having friends is right up there with breathing.
We have the incredible privilege of friendship with God, not just an invitation to arrange for an audience with him at his pleasure.
Read More friendship, relationshipScripture says the Lord considers us to be His friends, but friendship goes both ways. How do we hold up our end of the friendship? I mean, He’s given us so much. Eternally. Daily. Think of all the prayers He has answered for you. Have you ever wanted to give back and be a friend to him (v 22)?
Of course, our efforts would be small, just like those of a human child to please their parents; however, those heart-felt gifts are very valuable.
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This passage gives us a strange and even intriguing picture of forgiveness. Most often forgiveness is portrayed as God’s response to our confession of sins. In this passage we see something very different. Here it is not because of the crippled man’s faith that Jesus pronounces him forgiven but rather the faith of the man’s friends: “When Jesus saw how much faith they had…”
Read More faith, forgiveness, friendshipIn these verses, Solomon develops one of the earliest Bible themes, the basic human need for companionship. In Genesis 1 and 2, Moses described God’s creation of the world, starting with the lowest forms of life and moving to the creation of “a man in God’s own image.” (Genesis 1:26). Immediately thereafter God comments about the nature of humans: “It is not good for a man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). It is a simple statement but establishes a central principle about human existence in God’s world.
Read More friendship, guidanceThe potential for good exists in all people. We have been made in the image of God, yet that image has been distorted in all of us. We are not “by nature” what God created us to be. As a result not all relationships are good.
Read More forgiveness, friendship, gossip, tongueWho is your Elizabeth? And who is your Mary? This passage is one of my most favourite from the Christmas story. It is about Mary fleeing to a safe place. It is about Elizabeth welcoming her. It is about Jesus. It’s about John too. And, of course, it is all about further confirmation of the wonders that are about to happen.
But it is also about rejoicing with those who rejoice. Hugging those who need one. Listening. Offering an ear, a room and a bed. It is about friendship in God’s family.
Read More listening, joy, friendship, sorrow, hurtInterspersed throughout the Proverbs are a number of comments that give us a glimpse into the personal life of the writer. In these two verses Solomon reflects on the isolation – even loneliness – that a professional decision maker endures. Friendship and power do not mingle easily. The ancient adage that “for justice to be just,” it must be blind: it must not be influenced by issues of friendship, brotherhood, companionship or other kinds of self-interest.
Read More loyalty, justice, friendshipIn these verses Solomon gives us counsel on a number of matters that have to do with friendship. Throughout the Proverbs Solomon has shown a consistently high view of friendship. In life we are thrown together with many acquaintances. We have family, neighbors, people we work with and various other companions. We can’t control all of the factors that put us in relationship with others: we can, and must, decide who to allow into that select circle of people that Solomon calls “friends.”
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Betrayal. From the time Cain lured Abel into the fields, only to turn on his brother in a jealous rage, (Genesis 4:1-16) betrayal at the hands of a loved one has been a recurrent theme through the ages. It was no different for King David. While there is no exact date attached to this psalm, it could very well have been David’s troubled cry when Absalom, a favourite son, attempted to overthrow his father’s kingdom, along with one of David’s once-trusted advisors (2 Samuel 15-17).
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Even though David and Jonathan had remarkable chemistry together, their friendship was severely tested by their mutual relationship with Jonathan’s father, King Saul.
Good friends don’t hide their differences and struggles from each other. David and Jonathan put their differing perspectives “on the table”. For David, it was a matter of life and death. They did not argue or debate unnecessarily; instead they decided to invite God to show them the path they should take.
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