THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

It never ceases to amaze me how what I am reading seems to always get tied into my devotional readings. Yesterday's Freedom Fighter was on VITAL FRIENDSHIPS. "Coincidentally" here was the reading today from the devotional, OUR DAILY WALK, by one of the great KESWICK speakers, the late Dr. F. B. Meyer:

"Two are better than one ... for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow." -- Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10

"We cannot have many inner friends, but sad is the life that has not been its other self. The friendship of David and Jonathan, has passed into the current talk of the world. It is especially good for the Christian disciple to travel to heaven with a comrade.

A friend is INVALUABLE if we stumble or fall on the path of life. "Woe to him that is alone when he falls." "Brethren," says the Apostle, "if a man may be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.' Let us watch for each other's souls; if any is falling away from the truth or into some insidious trap, let us lift him up. Let us exercise the brotherly solicitude that Barnabas, the encourager, did for Paul.

Friendship should make our spirits glow. "How can one be warm alone?" Of course, in a spiritual sense there are divine resources of spiritual heat. The love of Christ kindles to vehement heat. But it is certainly easier to keep up the temperature when we have a kindred heart beside us. Perhaps this is one reason why our Lord sent forth His disciples by two and two. (Mark 6:7)

Without companionship material things cannot satisfy. The ties of nature, friendship and religious communion give a zest to a poor man's life, which the miser with all his wealth forfeits. It is all-important, not only in ordinary life, but pre-eminently in the pilgrimage of the spirit, to have fellowship with some kindred soul.

In temptation a true friend makes us more able to withstand the devil. It is a help in the hour of trial to have a friend who will appropriate the words of our Lord, saying, ' I have prayed for YOU, that your faith will fail not.' There is no fellowship like that of Jesus, our Faithful Friend, who lifts us when we fall, chafes us when chilled with cold, and assists us against the tempter. Does He not make the third in the THREEFOLD cord? "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Good word for today. Take time today to thank that special friend in your life.

Great Quote: If the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural. Andrew Murray