A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Here we are in 2014 and, oh my!, how things have changed. The advent of the internet and social media has changed the way we interact with each other and the world around us. In the click of a phone camera and a post to a web-sharing site we can tell anyone listening where we are and what we are doing. Just as quickly we can be “friend-ed” and don’t we love to see our friend count or likes grow! But just how close are these friends?
Friendship for most people is a combination of affection, loyalty, love, respect, and trust. The general traits of a friendship include similar interests, mutual respect and an attachment to each other, and in order to experience friendship, you need to have true friends. The emotional safety provided by friendship means not having to weigh your thoughts and measure words. Definition of Friends
Friendship is one of life’s intangibles. It’s something we all have felt but we all may not have the same idea of what makes up a “friend”. Just the word brings to mind days gone by where friendships were started or activities shared with friends. But if we use the scripture verse found in Proverbs as a guide – a man (or woman) who has friends must show himself (or herself) to be friendly – we can ask ourselves am I a true friend?
Have you ever heard a one sided phone conversation? Do you know someone who texts or tweets you but doesn’t read or respond to your texts? It’s so easy for people to get caught up in the “sharing” without really caring. Selfies epitomize this kind of self absorption social media has brought us to. It’s the “look at me” revolution of superficial friendships that make up too much of our interaction with each other. Social media sites have been used to raise people to over night stardom and fame as well as knock someone down to despair and suicide. Not discounting the ability of social media to rally people for a cause I still have to ask – how many real friends do you have.
The second part of today’s scripture tells us about One who sticks closer than a brother. This tells us two very specific things – one – it’s assumed that family ties are closer than friendships. Secondly, that there is one person referenced who may only be a friend but will defend and protect as if He were a family member.
Jesus is that friend Who is closer than a brother. He did what few “friends” would do. He died in your place for the sins you committed. AND He did it gladly and would do it again even if you were the only person who needed it.
For over two thousand years – long before social media was invented – He has been saying – FRIEND ME!
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20 NKJV
Be Blessed, Al
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