The Functions of a Friend…
The old saying goes…”You have very few friends and many associates.” I believe we throw that label around very loosely and we call many people friends that should be called associates. What function does a friend have in your life? I have some close friends who I know I can call on and depend on when I need to. Jesus in the Gospel of John 15:15 states, “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.” He says no greater love than this than a man lay down his life for a friend. Even Deonne Warwick sung, “That’s what friends are for! In good times and bad times, I’ll be on your side for ever more”. No one can measure up to the friendship that we find in Jesus Christ. The hymn says, “What a Friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.”
When you find a true friend you will find someone who will: Love you unconditionally, Be trustworthy in word and deed, Tell you the truth (especially when you are wrong), Think of your best interest and not just do things to make you happy, Sacrifice of themselves, Cry with you, Laugh with you and Give without hesitation. It is hard to find people in your life that will truly live up to these standards…but it is possible. I have some very close friends who I can show my ugly side to and they don’t judge me. I have some friends who I can say what’s on my mind and they not take offense to it. I have some friends who I can be transparent with and they not use it against me. When you find some friends that fit these functions…hold on to them and reciprocate the friendship back to them.
We all need some good friends in our lives. As I close this little blog, I was watching Scandal and the ex-president came to see about Olivia after the death of her friend Quinn. She being distraught asked him what he was doing here. He said, “because I am your friend.” She replied, “You are not my friend!” She began to lash out against him until she finally took the bottle of wine and closed the door in her face.
Sometimes friendship means you are the punching bag that your friend needs in times of crisis…don’t get offended, don’t get in your feelings but just be that friend – in times of crisis!
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