Do you ever find yourself longing for a good friend to just take an interest in your life? You know, someone who will take the first step to see how you are doing?
It seems that we are terrible at making friends and perhaps equally as bad at befriending and cherishing the people who are already in our lives.
People are busy. People are in a hurry. People are overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy. People are stressed out by the demands of life.
And people feel forgotten. And alone.
Have you felt this way? Do you know what I am talking about?
The struggle seems to be that even when we do have true friends, that really do care, they often are so busy with their stuff that they just don’t seem to have time or energy to reach out.
But you and I have the opportunity to change that. God is calling us to be a good friend to others.
This of course takes time and effort. But interestingly enough, if you make the effort, God will help provide the time.
Furthermore, we sometimes wonder whether we have the emotional bandwidth to talk to another person (even our friends whom we deeply love and care for) so we wait until we “feel” stronger, healthier and more able to be a good friend to them. And yet just as with the issue of time, so too with emotional stamina: if we make the effort God will supply the love, compassion and attention that we need to be a good friend.
In the Bible there are two really good words for us to pay attention to. The first is “philoxenia” which is most often translated “hospitality.” What it means literally is “love for strangers.” If you and I take the time and put in the effort to love strangers and neighbors, God will help to make them friends. Be hospitable. Ask someone to go to lunch or coffee. Have them over for fellowship and games.
The second word is “phileo” which is translated “brotherly love.” Scripture abounds with verses about us honoring, loving and caring for our “brothers.” The friends that God has placed in our lives need to be seen, heard, valued, treasured, and appreciated. And in order to do that, we must make the effort, we must reach out, we must be intentional. Help someone with a struggle. Write them a “thank you” card or “thinking of you” card. Drop by a plate of cookies to cheer them up.
As we do these things, God will supply the time, the energy, the opportunity to show love, to make friends, to build each other up, and truly to find joy in the relationships God has placed us in.
Who can you contact today? Don’t delay. Do it now. Send a text or message them online or even better call or visit them. Don’t worry about what you will say. Just ask a couple questions. Listen attentively. God will help the conversation to develop and as it does you will be amazed to see the love and friendship grow.
Pastor Michael Johnson 