With many friends you can still come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~Proverbs 18:24
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 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 have learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: love each other. ~John 15:13-17
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~Romans 5:6-8
I can’t say exactly why, but the passages today brought to my mind Spanky and the gang from, The Little Rascals. Maybe I just wonder sometimes if that’s how God wishes that we experienced church, without the causing trouble part. You know, just a gang of friends, hanging out together, enjoying each other, full of energy and creativity. There would be no jostling for position or rank. Our building would be like the club house where everyone had a part and wanted to just be there.
Friends certainly can influence each other for good or for bad. The Little Rascals stories frequently show the problems that can come between friends. Of course we’re glad that they always get back together in the end. But I suppose that in their case, they demonstrate Solomon’s point that even if you have many friends, you can still come to ruin. Many friends don’t necessarily keep you from making poor decisions.
There is also the story, recorded in 1 Kings 12 & 2 Chronicles 10, in which Solomon’s own son, Rehoboam, was poorly influenced by his many friends. I guess he didn’t believe his father’s wisdom would work for him. “The young men who had grown up with him,” advised him to announce that he would be a harsh king. Their intent was to be enabled to keep living the easy life as the King’s friends. But their advice definitely led to ruin. The common folk rebelled and broke the kingdom into two sections, with ten tribes choosing a different king, even though the one they chose didn’t turn out much better.
But that one friend, the one you hold close, the one with whom you share all your secrets, the one whose advice you seek above all others, that one, sticks closer than a brother because it isn’t a blood tie that joins you, but the heart.
Why do friends stay committed to each other? They aren’t hired to do so. It’s a bond that is different from a job. When Jesus changed our status with Him from servant, a submissive position, to friend, a statement of equality, He was saying a lot about how He sees us and why He wanted to die for us. It’s so hard to comprehend that God, my Creator, would elevate me to such a place of honor when I know that I have certainly done nothing to deserve it.
It is a heart issue with Him as well. I stand amazed, always, when I consider His bond to us. He is the friend that loves more than a brother. While Paul mentions that for a righteous person someone may die, he makes the point that no one would die for an unrighteous one. But Jesus did! That is hard for me to get my mind around. Then, for me, the most amazing thing of all is that Jesus says that He chose us!
We often think that we chose Jesus, but in truth, He chose us, each of us, to die for, to be His friends, to help Him in His Kingdom work. Maybe we are supposed to be a bit like the Little Rascals gang for Him. After all, we were chosen to be His friends and have fun doing it! With His joy in our hearts because we have been chosen, we can be the happening place on the block that others will want to be a part of. We have been chosen to be His friends so we can be each other’s friends as well and spread His joy throughout our neighborhood, our city, our state and the world! (Acts 1:8) Especially during such a time as this.
Prayer: Father God, your amazing grace, allowing us to join Your family is truly wonderful beyond words. Jesus, thank you for wanting me for a friend. What an honor! Holy Spirit, You even have to help me a good one! May I continue to respond with joyful obedience. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Children of God
Grace, mercy and peace,
Greg & Kathy
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