On Friendship

"Love is much too pure and holy, Friendship is too sacred far, For a moments reckless folly Thus to desolate and mar." This stanza from "Angry Words" (Sacred Selections, #112) tells so much truth. Friendship is a special relationship, that we must cherish.

When I lost my friend Rick Hubartt, it made me reflect upon the type of person that Rick was: A True Friend. He was the type of person that you always felt comfortable around. He was not "stuffy" or arrogant, but was always at ease. I don't remember anything negative about Rick. That isn't to say he was perfect, but it is to say that I can't remember a time when he did or said anything that was out of character with one who was striving to live a Christ-like life. He was a friend and a Christian: the best type of friend.

I first met Rick in Richmond, Virginia back in 1980. He had come to take over the preaching work at the West End congregation when Gene Tope left. Rick and I hit it off right away. We were from similar backgrounds and close in age. We played racquetball together and even vacationed together. It was such a wonderful treat to be able to do something with someone who you didn't need to worry about. I never had to worry about Rick saying something negative or cursing or anything like that. He had a great sense of humor and he knew how to have fun. Yes fun! A Christian can still main- tain their Christ-like image and have fun. Rick was that type of person, and I will miss him very much.

God has placed a lot of emphasis on friendship. Out of all the things that God could have said about Abraham, He chose to have us understand that Abraham was his friend: "...Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." (James 2:23) When one thinks about God and who He is and what He needs, (or does NOT need from us) the fact that God declares Abraham to be His friend, speaks volumes. What a testimonyto that great man to be known for Eternity as God's Friend! Jesus spoke about friends also. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:13,14) These men were not only the disciples of Christ, but his friends. Not because they made that claim, but because HE declared them as such. They were His friends, and He was willing to die for that friendship!

Of course we must be careful: just having friends does not always mean that you are in good company. Friends who want you to do things that violate God's word are not true friends at all, for they will separate you from God's Love. "... know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4) Friends who will influence us against God's ways, are not true friends: "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." (Proverbs 22:24,25) We must be very careful who we choose to associate with, for fear that they may influence us against the God that we love. Having friends, just to have friends, is not necessarily a good idea.

The best friend one can have, is one who also is striving to follow Jesus Christ. It may be one's spouse, or fleshly brother or sister. It may be another member of the local church. These are the best and truest of friends, because they will help you in your growth in Jesus Christ, and allow you to help them as they grow also. They will provide times of happiness and joy, along with supporting you in times of difficulty and sorrow. Of course to have friends, you must show yourself as one who is a friend: "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Prov. 18:24)

Friends are truly wonderful. When one loses a best friend it is a difficult loss. However, we must then seek to make new friends. You will be someone's best friend, when you follow the Saviour and help them to also follow him! 

[JW]

This Weeks Memory Verse

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may
be also." (John 14:1-3)