What Is A Friend
Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 62 viewsThe problem of loniness is an obstacle to true happiness.
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friend
■ noun
1 a: one attached to another by affection or esteem
1 a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.
Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).
1 a: one attached to another by affection or esteem
b: acquaintance
2 a: one that is not hostile
4: a favored companion
4: a favored companion
4: a favored companion
Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
Friendship, False
It is easy to treat people as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves. As a gregarious man once boasted, “I have friends I haven’t even used yet.”537
A false friend is like your shadow. As long as there is sunshine, he sticks close by. But the minute you step into the shade, he disappears.538
Friendship, True
A friend has been defined as the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.539
What Is a friend? According to the Scriptures the world is not, only those who enflesh the very heart of God.
Jesus gave us model for healing our pains in family and relationships. Friends! Spiritual friends...” ";
Jesus gave us model for healing our pains in family and relationships. Friends! Spiritual friends...” ";
We’ve heard that blood is thicker than water. But the Spirit is thicker than blood. Nothing heals family wounds more effectively than the love of spiritual friends."
We’ve heard that blood is thicker than water. But the Spirit is thicker than blood. Nothing heals family wounds more effectively than the love of spiritual friends."
True Friendship is shared work, mutual encouragement, mutual safety, mutual staying power—a threefold mutuality between two people and God—this is friendship." ;
True Friendship is shared work, mutual encouragement, mutual safety, mutual staying power—a threefold mutuality between two people and God—this is friendship." ;
A common godly vision (True Friendship), shared work, mutual encouragement, mutual safety, mutual staying power—a threefold mutuality between two people and God—this is friendship."
(vv. 7-8). Solomon described a man whom he actually saw and perhaps knew. Note his observations about the man and the issue of loneliness:
The empty and frustrated feelings of the lonely person (v.7). They feel deserted, forsaken, isolated, rejected—like outcasts in society.
The empty and frustrated feelings of the lonely person (v.7). They feel deserted, forsaken, isolated, rejected—like outcasts in society.
The lonely have few, if any, close friends. As a result, they lack the companionship, comfort, and support that friends can give. The lonely sometimes question the purpose of life, feeling that life is meaningless, empty, not worth living.
The causes of loneliness (v.8). 1) The man was evidently all alone. He had no relationships. 2) The man had no children or siblings and possibly no wife. 3) The man was a slave to his work. 4) The man was never content, never satisfied; he never had enough.
The causes of loneliness (v.8). 1) The man was evidently all alone. He had no relationships. 2) The man had no children or siblings and possibly no wife. 3) The man was a slave to his work. 4) The man was never content, never satisfied; he never had enough.
Yet, his labor was in vain. He had no heir to leave his possessions to and he had given up all pleasure to work so hard. He had deprived himself for nothing.
The result of loneliness: A sense of futility and dissatisfaction (v.8). he felt that life was meaningless, empty, and unfulfilling.
The result of loneliness: A sense of futility and dissatisfaction (v.8). he felt that life was meaningless, empty, and unfulfilling.
Loneliness made the man utterly miserable. The ultimate fruit of this man’s labor was worthless.
The benefits of companionship: Two are better than one (vv. 9-12). 1) Two of them could work and gain more together (v.9). 2) Two of them could reach out and help each other up when one of them fell (v.10). 3) Two of them could provide warmth for each other (v.11). 4) Two of them could better defend themselves together (v.12). 5) Two of them could do even more with a third companion (v.12).
The benefits of companionship: Two are better than one (vv. 9-12). 1) Two of them could work and gain more together (v.9). 2) Two of them could reach out and help each other up when one of them fell (v.10). 3) Two of them could provide warmth for each other (v.11). 4) Two of them could better defend themselves together (v.12). 5) Two of them could do even more with a third companion (v.12).
The principle of friendship is also found in Amos. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” ( KJV). Friends are of like mind. The truth that comes from all of this is a friendship is a relationship that is entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it.
God has made us social beings. Like David, we all need friends ().
Christ has designed his church to be a community of the mutually dependent, (1)none can thrive in isolation (). (2) It is foolish to separate yourself from others ().
Christ has designed his church to be a community of the mutually dependent, (1)none can thrive in isolation (). (2) It is foolish to separate yourself from others ().
But all around us are people who are lonely due to the circumstances of life, such as…
· widows or widowers · single adults · divorced adults · orphans or abandoned children · the shunned or outcasts in society · newcomers to a community or school · those whose families have moved away · those with no siblings · people in nursing homes and care centers · people who are introverted or shy · people who are homeless, diseased, disabled, or mentally handicapped · the imprisoned or oppressed
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart” ().
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart” ().
We as believers must reach out to those who are alone.
We should invite them to lunch or dinner in our homes or in restaurants. We should include them at holidays and in family celebrations. We should invite them to church, social functions, or support groups. We should make an effort to get to know them, to find out their birthdays and do something special for them. If physically or financially able, we should make or buy them a gift at Christmas. We should visit and call them.
What Is True Friendship according to the Bible? “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:13
What Is True Friendship according to the Bible? “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend:
The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend:
Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends.
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (). “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (). “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (). “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” ().
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (). “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (). “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (). “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” ().
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” ()
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” ()