THE HAPPINESS OF A FRIEND

2Corinthians 2:2 NET
For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad?

Dear Believer,

A friend is someone on whom you can depend, before whom you can be open and not be ashamed.

‘Friendship’ is a very powerful word. Jesus once told His disciples that He wouldn’t call them His servants again. He upgraded their status to ‘friend.’

And He told them the reason.

John 15:15 KJV
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Now here’s what I’ve noticed. Many believers take friendship with their brethren for granted. In fact, we sometimes get stingy with love and affection when it comes to friends whom God has given us.

Proverbs 17:17 says “a friend is for all times,” and this includes very hard times. Believers are supposed to be to their believing friends “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24).

The apostle said in our focus passage how it can be counterproductive to make sad someone who you expect to make you happy. This is to say it is our duty to make our friends and believing brethren happy. So sometimes, the happiness of your friend depends on you!

This can be very difficult with someone who is selfish. Paul gives us this powerful principle for friendship and fellowship:

Phillipians 2:4 UST
Each one of you should not only be concerned about your needs. You should also be concerned about other people and help them when they have needs.

Good has designed us, not to be independent, but to be interdependent.

A Believer who does not value relationship or does not appreciate Christian friendship has not learned to walk in the love of God.

Those who make friends just because of what they can get are missing the point of friendship.

Believers who make friends they intend to ‘use’ aren’t operating in the Spirit of Christ.

John says we lie if we say we love God, Who we cannot physically interract with when we don’t love people we can see physically. (1 John 4:20).

Believer, you will need the practical love of your believing friends someday. Look out for them. Let your love for God be shown in practical terms, not just in words of mouth.

Get out of your comfort zone to reach out to those who the Lord has connected you with. Your words of comfort, presence in love and affectionate embrace may be what they need now to get out of some tight places.

Remember, God does not usually come down to do all this, and neither does He often send angels to do it. He uses friendship among believers to impart His love and care.

We are Believers, and we love at all times. It isn’t always easy, but we let God do it through us. And we know that Christian friendship is a way to show the love of God.

Reach out in friendship love today!

Have a great week!

Your friend,
Deon.