Chaplain’s Corner
Christian Friendships…from Trouble to Triumph!
True Christian friends may be hard to find! But they may end up being even perhaps
closer than many members of your family, and very often you may know! They should
believe with you when your faith may become sometimes weak, they should be there but
give you some Faith whenever your life seems to fall apart and they should rejoice with
you when all is going well! Most importantly, true Christian friends remind you, always,
that being Christ centered is the way to go! The main point of Christian friendship is
always companionship forged in Jesus’s two convictions that only He can satisfy your
souls and His kingdom alone is worth living for!
A Christ centered friendship is about ‘serving others! We always need to be asking
ourselves how God might use us in our friends lives and how He may want to use them
in our lives. We always should serve others more importantly than ourselves, believing
Jesus words that it is far more blessed to give than receive.
A friendship focused on Christ means you should meet the spiritual, emotional, and
physical needs of one another. Jesus had compassion for His disciples and all who were
with Him daily, in caring for their needs. He fed, healed, and broke bread with them. All
of us are called to live like Christ did and do the same. In Galatians 6:2 we are called to
"bear one another’s burdens and in doing so, fulfill the law of Christ”. All Christians are
directed to seeing not only our friends in need, but all who we meet, whether they have
recently experienced a life changing event, an overload of work or emotion, a need of a
helping hand, (more circumstances than I have the room to list) or with just something as
simple as a smile or a word of encouragement! It is a proven fact that solid friendships
can decrease your and others stresses and thoughts you may be carrying. You have or
will have someone you trust to share them with and someone you know well enough to
care about your wellbeing.
There are many, myself included, that have met with the pre mature loss of a loved one, a
spouse, relative or friend. There have been no boundaries of time for so many with the
issues surrounding grief duration and management. The silence has been truly
deafening and the possibility of loneliness could possibly affect both men and women of
all ages, especially as we grow older. But there is a saving grace that God, in His
wisdom, has provided; the guidance in establishing friendships. We are summoned as
Christians to be with and have likeminded people in our lives, especially through our
churches.
The fact is, hat friends are indispensable in our lives! The older a person gets, the more
valued their friendship becomes. There is something special about having a friend you
can confide in, tell your troubles to, and share your life with. A problem is halved and a
joy is doubled! We can rejoice in the meaning of Proverbs 27:9.
But just "How and Who” do we find Christian friendship with? What are the guidelines
we should consider and follow? Here are some ideas for you all to consider:
Cultivate your Christian friendships at your church, through your ‘smaller groups’. "Be
the Christian person you want to meet”! Greet people and introduce yourself to
someone new each week. Consider attending services at your church at the same time
each week so you can see many of the same faces. Do not just attend services, but also
attend activities hosted by your congregation, Functions hosted by the church and
events after services are often better ways to forging friendships! Think about
volunteering!
We should be accepted unconditionally. No one is perfect and we all make ‘missteaks’!
The best of friendships is with others who accept our weaknesses and imperfections.
The true Christian friend is also deemed over time, to be trustworthy. We should always
share trust with the possibility of a loyal friend or more, but choose wisely and take your
time!
True Christian friends should build each other up emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
You will and should receive strength, encouragement, and love.
Most of all, Christian friends keep Jesus first! As in Luke 14:26, Jesus demands our
loyalty and to be our friend above all others!
The value of true Christian friends is one of the most important things in a person’s life.
Their worth is not diminished by time, not devalued by inflation, and not worn out by
being your real friend!
It is by His Grace we are saved…by His Word we should live…and by His Will we should
‘serve others’…
