The QBC Daily Nugget
September 2, 2013
“The Rules of the Lord are true and righteous. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine
gold” (Psalm 19:9b-10a)
PROVERBS 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Theme of the Day: TRUE FRIENDSHIP. How would we define “true friendship”? Well, first, let me state what
doesn’t define it. True friendship is not having relationships with people that never go beyond the cordial level in
the relationship. That applies both in our relationships with people in the world and those in our churches. True
friendship, defined by the Bible, goes beyond the surface of just having acquaintances or occasionally bumping
into each other. It even goes beyond just seeing each other once a week in church.
When it comes to helping us understand and practice true friendship, the words of Solomon in today’s scripture
and the words of Jesus in John’s Gospel are instructive. First, from Jesus - “Greater love has no one than this,
that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I
call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (JOHN 15:13-15). It might escape our thinking
when it comes to defining true friendship, but Jesus makes it quite clear – to be a true friend one must be
diligent in obeying God’s Word – You are my friends if you do what I command you. Why is this the chief criteria
for being a true friend? Because as we obey the commands of God, we are conformed into the image of the
“Friend of all friends”, the Lord Jesus. This must be sought by us if we want to be a true friend to
others. Without being close to Jesus, we cannot live selflessly and being selfless is the criteria for being a true
friend.
The next way to define and practice true friendship is provided by Solomon in today’s scripture – “A friend loves
at all times.” Want to know if you have true friends? They will be the people in your life that love you through
thick and thin, on bad days and good days, and will always make themselves available for you. They simply
love you. True friends love and it is a love of availability and action. And this friendship thing goes two
ways. Not only do we have people in our lives that are true friends by loving us at all times, be we are that type
of friend to others.
So, as we think of what defines true friendship, do we meet the Biblical criteria in being one? Are we striving to
obey and be close to the “Friend of all friends”, the Lord Jesus and thus becoming like Him? And do we love at
all times those people God has placed in our lives? That is what it will take to be a true friend and what a
difference it will make in our lives and the lives of others. The journey to heaven is to be traveled with friends as
we march together to meet the “Friend of all friends”, the Lord Jesus.
Prayer: “Lord, help me to learn to be a true friend in my relationships with Your people.”
Quotable: “To be a friend means to commit to love those we befriend.”