What Kind Of Friend

Have You Been To Jesus?

 

 

"Have you ever seen ants swarm over the flower bud of the opening peony? How they cling to it! How nursingly they go round and round it! Is it because they love flowers? No! It is so that they may lick up the sugary secretion of the bud. So there are many who cling to people and call themselves their friends not because they love them but because of what they can get out of them." - Encyclopedia Of Sermon Illustrations 

 

Unfortunately, we all have had our share of "friends" who used us for their own gain. They pretended to love and care for us, but, in the end, they proved to be betrayers. They feigned friendship as long as their humor was pleased and interests were served.

 

In the Psalms, we read of several incidents where David related how his "own familiar friend" in whom he trusted "lifted up his heel" against him. In other words, this particular acquaintance acted as a traitor Psalm 41:9).

In Psalm 55:12-13, we read his description of the treachery of a very close friend - "mine equal, my guide(companion), and  mine acquaintance" - "reproached me" and "magnified himself against me."

In 2 Timothy 4:10, we read how Demas forsook the Apostle Paul in the ministry because he "loved this present world."

And then in 2 Timothy 4:16-17, we read how Paul was abandoned by all, except the Lord - "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me...Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me..."

 

Oh! To be able to find one good friend in this life! 

 

If we should meet up with someone, how will we ever know if they are a Faithful and True Friend?

 

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines "friend" as one who is attached to another by affection or esteem.

 

A man by the name of R.C.H. Lenski distinguished between a True and False Friend in this way - "It is the best and truest friend who honestly tells us the truth about ourselves even when he knows we shall not like it. False friends are the ones who hide such truth from us and do so in order to remain in our favour."

 

Some may define a True Friend as one who loves and accepts us just as we are.

He is -

...one who stays close to us in the good times as well as the bad

...not a Fair Weather Friend - one whose affections turn with the wind and change with the weather

...not a Swallow Friend - one who flies to you in summer but is gone in winter.

 

But, where can we find a friend so true? 

 

There was a man by the name of Joseph Scriven who lived in Ireland in the 1800's. He had wealth, education, and a devoted family. One day unexpected tragedy hit his life. The night before his wedding, his fiancee was drowned. In his deep, deep sorrow, he could find no solace anywhere except in his dearest friend - the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

This tragedy served to change his entire lifestyle. Shortly afterwards, he left Ireland for Port Hope, Canada, and devoted his time and energy to being a friend and helper to the destitute. Because of his charitable acts of giving clothing and possessions to all in need, he became known as the "Good Samaritan of Port Hope." 
        
One day, his Mother grew very ill. In a letter sent to Ireland, he enclosed a newly written poem with a prayer that the words of his poem would remind her of a never-failing Heavenly Friend. This Friend that he referred to was Jesus, and the title of the poem was "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" -

 

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! 
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, 
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

 

        Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
        We should never be discouraged - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
        Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
        Jesus knows our every weakness - Take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

        Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
        Precious Savior, still our refuge - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
        Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
        In His arms He'll take and shield thee - Thou wilt find a solace there."

 

Oh! How this beautiful poem and song has ministered to many over the years!

 

"Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?"

 

The Lord Jesus will always be our "refuge" no matter what we face in this life. We can always find a solace in Him.

 

Aren't you glad for that?

Isn't it so wonderful that we have such a Heavenly Friend to run to at all times and in every place?

 

No, never alone! He promised never to leave us, never to leave us alone!

 

We're not alone!

Never! 

Not with such a Heavenly Friend watching over us! 

Praise His Holy and Wonderful Name! 

 

The Lord Jesus takes all believers to be His friends. Since life is the most valuable treasure we could ever possess, He demonstrated the utmost extent of His love for us when He died on the Cross in our place. He now calls us His "friends" because we are His followers and obedient servants who share in the knowledge of His counsels, plans, and wishes - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 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"(John 15:13-15).
                                                               

"What a Friend we have in Jesus!"

 

However, the question remains - does Jesus find a friend so faithful in each one of us?

 

Proverbs 17:17 tells us - "A friend loveth at all times..."

 

Can this be said of our love for Him?

Are we constant in our love - equally in adversity as in prosperity?

Or do we curse Him or allow our hearts to become bitter and hardened toward Him in the bad times...forget or deny Him when we are full and prosperous? 

 

Proverbs 18:24 tells us - "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..."

 

If we do not keep the communication lines open between us and our friends, then we cannot expect to retain our friendships. The same is true for our relationship with the Lord Jesus. In order to keep our friendship vibrant and alive, we must show ourselves friendly to Him. This requires that we spend time alone with Him in His Word and in prayer - sharing our deepest secrets with Him.

 

What kind of friend have you been to the Lord Jesus?

Have you -

...been True or False? Faithful or Unfaithful?...loved Him at all times?...shown yourself friendly to Him as He has to you?...been a Fair Weather Friend whose affections for Him turn with the wind and change with the weather?...only earnestly sought Him in the past when things were falling apart in your life and you had no one else to turn to?

 

How about when the blessings were abounding? Did you still desire Him with all your heart? Or have you been a Swallow Friend - one who flew in at summer but was gone in the winter...served Him as long as everything was going right in your life and you were basically getting your own way...forsook Him for the things of this world the moment you were asked to sacrifice or give up something precious to you.

 

John 13:1 tells us that Jesus loved His own which were in the world - "...He loved them unto the end."  

 

Shouldn't we do the same for Him?