1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Can you define friendship? Is a friend someone that tells you want you need to hear when you need to hear it? Is a friend you can take you problems to? Is a friend someone you can count on when you are going through a storm? Is a friend all of the above and more? Friendship is love isn’t it?
My niece Tylasha found out that friends are not always what they claim to be. she had planned a surprise birthday party for my sister. When she began to call some of my sister’s closest friends to invite them, she was shocked by some of their responses. Most where excited about the occasion, others where pleased and excited to be invited. Nonetheless, what was upsetting to my niece was how some of my sister’s “closest friends” lashed out at her for even inviting them.
My sister was going to do what any loving Mother would do she was going to rush to comfort her baby. But my wise Brother-In-Law advised that my niece gained a valuable lesson from all of this and to allow my niece to grow and mature. And I agree! The most important thing is all this us is the wisdom God blessed my niece with from this experience. Jesus had friends that let him down. Peter denied him, and Judas betrayed him. Yet, he still loved them. Family and friends often do not understand nor apply Agape love. It is a discipline to love a person unconditionally, no matter what. No matter how much they disappoint you, to love them anyway is a discipline. No matter how much they let you down or hurt you, to love them anyway is a discipline. As my niece found out true friends are hard to find. most of us are living in a permanent state of Eros love, the what is in it for me love kind of love. “I love you because you love me!”
Have you ever read the story "Jungle Book?" Well, it tells the story of a boy, Mowgli, who lives in the jungle among the animals. He is trying to make his way back to the human village and along the way he meets many very interesting characters and makes some new friends. There's mad King Louie of the Apes and a lovable, happy-go-lucky bear named Baloo. He even meets a group of vultures who pledge their friendship in a song called "That's What Friends Are For." The words of the song go like this: “We're your friends, We're your friends, We're your friends to the bitter end When you're alone, Who comes around To pluck you up when you are down? And when you're outside, looking in who’s there to open the door? That's what friends are for!” That’s the song and my as my niece found out, it is more than just a song, true friends are hard to find. Through this experience, my niece found that her one true friend will always be there for her. One that will never leave or forsake her!
Even though life is hard, temptation is strong, and problems are many. When you are at your worst your earthly friends will not be there. When you are at your best your friends do not want to be there. But God wants you to know the reality of his presence in your life every moment of it! How I rejoice at the love God has given us in Jesus, Our one true friend. Jesus gives us the assurance that He will not refuse to associate with us. When Jesus made a friend of me, he certainly did not make a choice which brought him credit. Do you think he gained any honor when he made a friend of you? He never gained anything by us. No, my dear brothers and sisters, if Jesus had not stooped very low, he would not have come to me; and if he did not seek more unworthy, he might not have come to any of us. Yet after all, our lord Jesus made a good choice when he saved you and me!
Thank God for Jesus our one true friend. A friend who’s love endures every circumstance! When we are all alone, just call on Jesus! AMEN.
By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
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