Dale Ridge church of Christ

“The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.” (3 John 14) FRIEND! What a wonderful and meaningful word!
 
When the great composer, Beethoven, was asked what he considered the greatest accomplishment of his life, he replied, “I found and kept a true friend for life.”
 
“The glory of friendship,” wrote Waldo Emerson, “is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.” Friendship is a trust. We should all keep our friendships in constant repair. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but true friends will leave footprints in your heart. They make you truly rich. The lack of true friends makes you truly poor. Solomon wrote, “A friend loves at all times….”(Proverbs 17:17) and “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
 
Rivers are like lives. The more contributions they gain from friendships, the bigger they grow. Friendly, quiet little streams that join them in the long, troublesome journey to the sea, make rivers strong and mighty. The helpful contributions of  love, kindness, and understanding we gain from friends make our journey of life richer and better. Again, from the pen of Solomon, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Thanks be to God for friends! Whether in times of severe trial or glorious jubilation, there are moments when just the presence of a friend, even without a spoken word, can be precious.
 
Christians have an inside track on making and being friends because we are part of one family. Christian friendship within the fellowship of the church is the highest and noblest of all friendships. Christians are to “love”, “consider,” “prefer,” “honor,” and “serve” one another. A true friend never gets in your way except when you are on your way down.
 
Often, we are lonely and feel left out simply because we build walls instead of bridges. Solomon gave a simple remedy when he wrote, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly.” (Proverbs 18:24KJV)

In other words, to have a friend, be a friend.

“I went out to find a friend,
But could not find one there,
I went out to be a friend,
And friends were everywhere.”
                                                                          –Anon.                            

                                                                                                   –Charles Cash

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Filed under: Charles Cash, Devotional on January 21st, 2009