Friends

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. (Proverbs 17:17-20 ESV).

I suppose the past few days have been very nostalgic for me. I seem to be turning to the many reminders I have in my “new” office of the experiences of friendships past more and more these days. I guess that’s because I have been many months away from those reminders while we built the house. It has been wonderful to reminisce. I am certainly going to make a mistake by just mentioning one of those experiences since there are so many; however, as I look at the turkey we have displayed in full strut that I harvested several years ago in Tennessee it reminded me of the many hours I spent with Sheriff Bucky Rowland. We always did a wild game banquet at the church and I couldn’t imagine being able to do it without his help along with many others from our church. Those memories brought me to our reading today. True friendship is a gift that doesn’t come nearly as often as one my think. I’ve been blessed to have several of those friends through the years. I like what Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere and before him I may think aloud. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.” Walter Winchell defines a friend as “one who walks in when others walk out.” Someone else has said a friend is “a man who laughs at your funny stories, even when they ain’t so good, and sympathizes with your misfortunes, even when they ain’t so bad.” Do you have such a friend? Do you know true friendship? Many, I’m sad to say, have to answer no. The good news is this: you can have a best friend forever. That friend is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to get to know Him. You’ll never be disappointed. He’ll always be there with you. And, when you begin to move in that direction it is inevitable that you will find community in the gathering of fellow believers. God has a friend for you. Seek that person out. Ask God to lead you to that person who will “love at all times” and has been “born for adversity.” You will be as grateful as I am for such people in your life.