Friendship

by ROBERT DAVIES | Category: General | Dec 1943

True friendship is a lovely thing. Paul appreciated the friendly act of those referred to in Acts 28. 15,-"And from thence (Rome) the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius (41 miles distant), and The Three Taverns (30 miles distant): whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage."

Friends are spoken of in Proverbs 18.24,-" He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction," a scripture which we may more easily understand when we read the rendering in the Authorised Version, this being,-"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly." The intention evidently is to warn us against making more friends than we have means to discharge the obligation imposed upon us, to show ourselves friendly to them all. We should therefore be careful in the ---choice of friends, although we should be friendly to all, but bearing in mind the solemn words of James 4.4, "Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God. " We learn who are real friends when we are in adversity; not when everything is going well with us. We require to be careful that, whilst giving friends and relatives their proper place, we do not allow them to get out of that place and come between us and our responsibility to the Lord. In this matter we require to exercise discretion and control, - not only self-control, but control over our circumstances so that should occasion require we may have to say to our friends, as Abraham said to his young men,- 'Abide ye here.. and I ... will go ... and ... worship, and come again to you" (Genesis 22.5), or the suitable word may be that of Moses to Hobab, his brother-in-law,-" Come thou with us, and we will do thee good" (Numbers 10.29). The latter part of Proverbs 18.24, "There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" surely makes us think of the Lord Jesus Christ of whom we delight to sing,

"I have a Friend, whose faithful love

Is more than all the world to me."

No doubt, when the younger son of Luke 15. was giving away, with a lavish hand, the portion of his father's substance that fell to him he would have no lack of professed friends, but when he "began to be in want" and became the swine herd no man gave unto him thus verifying the truth of Proverbs 19 6 7 "Many will intreat the favour of the liberal man And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words but they are gone."

The Lord Jesus said to His disciples,-- No longer do I call you servants (bond-servants); for the servant (bond-servant) knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known unto you." He is our faithful Friend and He desires that we should be His friends, so He says,-" Ye are My friends, if ye do the things which I command you " (see John 15.14, 15).

At certain seasons friendship is expressed by the giving of gifts 2 Corinthians, chapter 9 is a great giving chapter where the divine friendship of the saints in Achaia towards needy ones else where was to be shewn by their gifts which would not only fill up the measure of the wants of the saints but would abound also through many thanksgivings unto God (see verse 12) The chapter closes with the oft-quoted reference to God's great Gift

" Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift."

It has been said that the giving and receiving of gifts is a delicate matter. Wisdom is needed in selecting what will be best suited to the given case and be appreciated. There can be no question- as to the suitability of God's unspeakable Gift, but how have we appreciated Him? Have we thought much of the perfections of His Gift, His Son? Perhaps we have thought upon Him- as Saviour, Lord and Shepherd, but what attention have we devoted to the consideration of Him as Prophet, Priest and King? What a privilege to recognise Him as the Prophet whose coming was foretold to Moses! Well might the people who beheld His wonderful works exclaim as did those in Luke 7. 16,- " A great Prophet is arisen among us " and " God hath visited His people." His word is the last word. Rightly we sing, "Great Prophet of our God! Our tongues would bless Thy name";

but do we ponder and pray over His words and seek to fathom their deep meaning?

Then think of Him as our great High Priest, so perfectly fitted to our needs! "It behoved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God" (Hebrews 2.17). Though He "hath --passed through the heaven " yet in Him we have a High Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and thus we are encouraged to "draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need" (Hebrews 4. 14-16).

"He, because He abideth for ever, hath His priesthood unchangeable. Wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7.24, 25)

"He, touched with trials that attend,

The weakness of our frame;

Can sympathetic succour lend.

For He has known the same,

He overcame His mightiest foe;

When He earth's pathway trod,

And vict'ry we may also know,

Who come through Him to God."

"Art Thou a King then? " He was asked by Pilate and knowing well what the good confession would bring Him the Lord answered "Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end I have been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice" (John 18.37, 38).

"Rabbi," said Nathaniel, "Thou art the Son of God"; Thou art King of Israel" (John 1.49). The purposes of God regarding the glorification of His Son shall yet be fully realised, and in the coming day He shall be manifest not only as "King of Israel" but as we read in Revelation 19. as "King of kings and Lord of lords. " Upon His shoulder the government will sit well and safely.

Sheba's queen said of Solomon,-" It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard" (1 Kings 10. 6,7) The Lord Jesus declared of Himself,-" Behold, a greater then Solomon is here " (Matthew 12.42).

Surely it befits us to confess of Him as she of the Song of Songs, -" My Beloved is ... the Chiefest among ten thousand... yea, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend" (5.10-16).

ROBERT DAVIES | Dec 1943
General