Today, I want to begin a series of blogs on intentional friendship. When we choose to live the intentional life, one area that stands out as not receiving enough attention is in our relationships. Sadly, friendships are often the first thing discarded onto the side of the road when the superhighway of life gets hectic. In reality, meaningful relationships should be the one thing we build a fortress around and protect at all costs.
The boundaries and the definition of friendship were blurred extensively as people became more mobile in the 20th century, in connection with the breakdown of local community, and with the advent of social media in the 21st century. Unfortunately, I don?t think we truly recognize the lofty perch friendship once held in life.
What is a Friend?
Dictionary.com defines the word ?friend? this way:
1. a?person?known?well?to?another?and?regarded?with?liking,?affection,?and?loyalty;?an?intimate
2. an?acquaintance?or?associate
3. an?ally?in?a?fight?or?cause;?supporter
4. a?fellow?member?of?a?party,?society,?etc
Somehow, I don?t think these definitions quite capture the essence of friendship.
What does the Bible say?
The Bible utilizes quite a bit stronger language when examining friendship:
Greater love has no one than this, that one?lay down his life for his friends. ? John 15:13
Honestly, how many of us do a good job of keeping lunch plans with our friends, much less are willing to lay down our lives?
A man of?too many?friends?comes?to?ruin,
But there is?a?friend who sticks closer than a brother. ? Proverbs 18:24
The message here is one of being intentionally selective with whom you choose to surround yourself with. Recognize those who will stick closer to you in both times of triumph and long days of struggle, and be cognizant of those who have self-serving motives.
Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another. ? Proverbs 27:17
I love it when a friend says, ?Wow, you just made me think?? But I really find satisfaction when a friend poses a thought or discusses an idea that causes me to consider my own life in deep and profound ways. This verse is alluding to the fact that friends should build us up, desire to see us grow, applaud our victories, and offer a difficult word when necessary.
A?friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity. ? Proverbs 17:17
While a brother is a blood relative, he may not be close. A friend has chosen to love at all times, and he is closer than a brother. The writer, King Solomon, seemed to be stressing the lofty position a true friend holds ? even elevated above a brother because a friend is present at all times.
Are these verses still relevant in our modern-day, always-on-the-go culture? We will examine their application next time.
How do you view friendships in the context of today?s culture versus the Biblical understanding? How do your relationships stack up to the verses above??
Photo Courtesy: JDConway
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