Thought for Today
Exodus 33:11 Thus 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 Nun, would not leave the tent.
Proverbs 18:24 Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin.
Matthew 11:19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
John 15:15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
Have you ever noticed that there are people whom, when you are first introduced to them, you know they will become your friends? Before you have heard them speak, before you know anything about them, you can sense that subtle bond forming. Why is it that we can so often form friendships instantly? And, conversely, why can we just as instantly know that we will never be friends with some others?
Not all friendships are formed instantly. Sometimes friendships form more slowly over time. There are those with whom we must develop areas of common interest and/or experience. We have the adage, “Opposites attract;” but, sometimes they repel, while other times they do attract. Why?
I’m sure that scientists have studied friendship and attempted to determine why some folks become our friends, some become our enemies and others quickly fade from our sight. I have read articles about pheromones, “A pheromone . . . is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavior of the receiving individuals.” (en.wikipedia.org) I do not believe that friendships can be reduced to simple chemistry.
Advice columnists have long written about friendships which, over time, blossom into love. If trying to understand friendships is difficult, trying to understand love is impossible. Why do we like the folks we like, love the folks we love, and feel otherwise about all the rest?
I don’t find many clues in scripture. I do not believe that a commonality of faith is the explanation. Over my lifetime, I have had friends at church, people who share not only my Christian faith but also its expression in our common worship traditions. Equally, I have had friends of other faith traditions and denominations. I have had friends of other religions; and, I have friends who were not believers.
I do believe that our Creator God brings certain people into our lives deliberately. God doesn’t somehow force us to be friends; but, I do believe our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator God knows that God’s children have the potential and the possibility to join with those people in bonds of friendship.
One of the great aspects of friendships is the synergistic possibilities they present. Friendships can produce much greater results than the individual friends could produce separately. If you notice, even the Nobel Prizes are very often presented to collaborative teams and groups. My own experience suggests to me that collaboration, working together towards a goal, often generates friendships.
My view on friends and friendships is heavily influenced by the fact that I married my best friend from high school. The improbability of our ever meeting and the similarities and disparities of lives suggests God’s hand in that meeting. Every day, I am amazed that 65 years later, we are still best friends. Our collaborative efforts in raising a family and on every aspect of our lives has truly been a joy. I know that I could never on my own have brought us to the point where we are now.
When Jesus first called each of the disciples to follow him, did he know that he would call them friends? I like to think so. I read those words above from John’s Gospel as applicable to all faithful Christians. Right now, the first line from What a Friend We Have in Jesus is running through my mind. Jesus, our friend, truly does bear all our sins and griefs. We can take all our cares, all our pains to Jesus in prayer. We can share with Jesus all our joys and all the good things in our lives. Share with the Son of God, whom we can call Friend.
Stay safe, be a friend, trust God,
Pastor Ray