What kind of friends are these?
These special folks demand a great deal of my attention during the week no matter what other priorities I have pending. I'm called upon to listen to endless tales of woe, to encourage and support, to offer a never-ending cycle of assistance when needed, and to "sticketh closer than a brother."
If they wore a T-shirt the slogan would read, 'Me, me, me.'
However, on the weekend they disappear like foxes to holes, and the rules shift. They have their own lives, their own families, and other agendas, and they, quite frankly, over that 2-1/2 day stretch just can't be bothered. Then Monday rolls around and in circular fashion the ritual begins again.
How do I deal with this?
Now if my affection was set on things on the earth this would present a major problem. Fortunately, my focus tends to be myopically centered on The Word and I can let love cover what I'm sure are unintentional sleights.
The Ultimate Friend
I say all this to say that I'm so deeply grateful to serve a God who not only promises to provide all of our needs -- but also delivers. He's the best friend anybody could ever have. If you're lonely, hurt, or drowning in depression, turn to Him and let Him fulfill you. Get to know him as a friend and let Him show you the meaning of true friendship that can be found by seeking His presence.
Read your Bible and pray. A basic tenet of friendship is communication. When we pray we talk to God; when we read the Word He talks to us.
There's no companionship that we could ever want or need that God can't fulfill.
Believe Him today and claim your privilege as a Friend of God.
Can you honestly say that God is your friend? How has He proven Himself to be a friend to you? In what ways have you found Him faithful?
"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." James 2:23, KJV*Photo via stock.xchng by Robert Michie.
Wow...This makes me want to take inventory of my own life to make sure that I'm not a weekday friend. I try not to be. I even try to handle my own burdens. Sometimes, people will burden you down so much with their own struggles that they fail to see you holding on the the life raft in the middle of your own situations. People laugh at me sometimes when I go to the tennis courts and every now and then I see people pointing and staring at me, and then I realize it's because of the shirt I tend to wear that reads "Ask me if I care"....Sometimes that's just how I feel, especially when I feel noone else cares about me.
ReplyDeleteHi, Brandee. From what I've seen of how selfLESS you try to be I seriously doubt that you fall into the category of a 'weekday friend.' : )
ReplyDeleteWhat I've found about people is that they can sometimes get so overwhelmed by their own cares that they don't even realize that their focus is continuously self directed. They're just drowning and are looking for a lifeline anywhere they can find it. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with us all supporting and encouraging one another; in fact, that's a good thing. We just have to be sure that we don't forget the true source of our contentment, companionship, and comfort.
The point I'm making is that when we invest in Him we never are left without a support. Regardless of whether we find ourselves being used as the shoulder or in the stead of needing one there's always a better way to get our need met - through Him and His Word - and He never lets us down, never gets tired, and never disappears.
I love that old song whose first verse goes:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
Thanks for commenting.
You're so right, and I love that song as well. I guess we as members of the body how to learn when to extend our limbs in support and when to bend our knees in prayer. In the end, I guess both will serve the same purpose because essentialy God is the only one who can truly solve our problems or keep us from drowning. I love your commentaries...
ReplyDelete