THE FRIEND.
We are always saying that we have friends. So what the meaning of the true friend?
Exodus 33.11
11.”The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then he would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Num, would not leave the tent.”
Isaiah 41.8
8."But you Israel, My servant Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham My friend," (2Chronicles 20.7) (Isaiah 41.8) (James 2.23).
James 2.23
23.Thus the scripture was fulfilled that say, "Abraham believed in GOD and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," (Genesis 15.6) (Romans 4.3) (Galatians 3.6) and he was called the friend of GOD. (2Chronicles 20.7) (Isaiah 41.8) (James 2.23)
So how Moses and Abraham became friends of GOD? Because they believe (have true faith in GOD) and obeyed Commandments of their Lord.
John 15.14
14.”You are My friends if you do what I Command you.”
How friend can be proven to be a true friend according to GOD’S standard?
John 15.13
13."No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Some may think this is a way too far and too much to ask, but look at Jesus Christ, He considered some people as His friends, and for them He had lay down His Own Life, so they will be with Him forever and ever, and this is only true definition of the true friend and true friendship.
Luke 5.20
Jesus and a paralytic man.
20.When He saw their faith He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
And again the verse above revealed that those who have true faith in GOD are His true friends.
So what the definition of a true friend?
Proverbs 17.17
17.”A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.”
Are all those whom we called friends are true friends? How to recognize a false friend?
Psalm 55.20-21
20.”My companion laid hands on a friend and violated a covenant with me,
21.with speech smoother than butter but with a heart set on war, with words that were softer than oil, but in fact were drawn swords.”
Proverbs 18.24
24.”Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin.”
Proverbs 19.4.6-7
4.”Wealth brings many friends, but the poor are left friendless.
6.Many seek the favor of the generous, and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
7.If a poor are hated even by their kin, how much more are they shunned (avoided) by their friends! When they call after them, they are not there.”
Jeremiah 20.10
10.”I hear many whispering, ‘Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. ‘Perhaps he can be enticed and we can prevail against him and take out revenge on him."
How hard to find a true friend among all human beings on Earth? Very hard, almost impossible.
Ecclesiastes 7.28
28.”which my mind has sough repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these, I have not.”
For some this statement of Solomon may seems very odd and not reflecting the whole truth concerning opposite sex, but Solomon here revealed only his own experience, and despite the fact that he had so many wives, he couldn’t find even one among all women he had to whom he can relate and be a soul mate.
But there is another type of friendship, the friendship with this world. Probably means by following rules, regulations, traditions, and customs of this world, people became friends with this world by adapting and by following its laws, no matter if they godly or not, in order to survive and to prosper.
James 4.4
4.”Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of GOD.”
We are always saying that we have friends. So what the meaning of the true friend?
Exodus 33.11
11.”The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then he would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Num, would not leave the tent.”
Isaiah 41.8
8."But you Israel, My servant Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham My friend," (2Chronicles 20.7) (Isaiah 41.8) (James 2.23).
James 2.23
23.Thus the scripture was fulfilled that say, "Abraham believed in GOD and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," (Genesis 15.6) (Romans 4.3) (Galatians 3.6) and he was called the friend of GOD. (2Chronicles 20.7) (Isaiah 41.8) (James 2.23)
So how Moses and Abraham became friends of GOD? Because they believe (have true faith in GOD) and obeyed Commandments of their Lord.
John 15.14
14.”You are My friends if you do what I Command you.”
How friend can be proven to be a true friend according to GOD’S standard?
John 15.13
13."No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Some may think this is a way too far and too much to ask, but look at Jesus Christ, He considered some people as His friends, and for them He had lay down His Own Life, so they will be with Him forever and ever, and this is only true definition of the true friend and true friendship.
Luke 5.20
Jesus and a paralytic man.
20.When He saw their faith He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
And again the verse above revealed that those who have true faith in GOD are His true friends.
So what the definition of a true friend?
Proverbs 17.17
17.”A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.”
Are all those whom we called friends are true friends? How to recognize a false friend?
Psalm 55.20-21
20.”My companion laid hands on a friend and violated a covenant with me,
21.with speech smoother than butter but with a heart set on war, with words that were softer than oil, but in fact were drawn swords.”
Proverbs 18.24
24.”Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin.”
Proverbs 19.4.6-7
4.”Wealth brings many friends, but the poor are left friendless.
6.Many seek the favor of the generous, and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
7.If a poor are hated even by their kin, how much more are they shunned (avoided) by their friends! When they call after them, they are not there.”
Jeremiah 20.10
10.”I hear many whispering, ‘Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. ‘Perhaps he can be enticed and we can prevail against him and take out revenge on him."
How hard to find a true friend among all human beings on Earth? Very hard, almost impossible.
Ecclesiastes 7.28
28.”which my mind has sough repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these, I have not.”
For some this statement of Solomon may seems very odd and not reflecting the whole truth concerning opposite sex, but Solomon here revealed only his own experience, and despite the fact that he had so many wives, he couldn’t find even one among all women he had to whom he can relate and be a soul mate.
But there is another type of friendship, the friendship with this world. Probably means by following rules, regulations, traditions, and customs of this world, people became friends with this world by adapting and by following its laws, no matter if they godly or not, in order to survive and to prosper.
James 4.4
4.”Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of GOD.”