There are two views on friendships. Let me start with the World View. The World view looks likes this:
Like-minded, like- income people who vote like you, and have the same golf handicap.
These are safe people; they won’t start asking for counseling or financial assistance. If you keep a healthy distance from them. The relationship won’t get muddied up with commitments or expectations. These friendships work, until the bottom falls out of your-life. Maybe you lose your job or a child or a spouse. You might come down with a serious illness. What you find in most cases is that since you have no investment in there life, there’s no money in the friendship bank to make a withdrawal. The friendship usually ends and you are left wondering where do I turn for True friendship.
Now let’s look at “Christian Friendship”
This is what the world does not understand, the concept of brotherhood and sisterhood. Christian friendship is different. You find a few Brothers and sisters, from the beginning you decide that you are going to expend yourself. You invest time,energy, and often money in them. Because you meet regularly and talk, you get into each others lives. You encourage, council, challenge and at times rebuke each other. You Make Sacrifices.
Acts 2:42-47
42 they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.
I have had these relationships, and still do to this day. I know that no matter what I can go to these Friends and share what’s happing in my life. They will listen and counsel with with me, they will challenge me when needed and they will tell me when I’m out of line. It’s because we have been there for each other in all types of times. Good and Bad.
I can honestly say that the relationships that have come from being in fellowship with other believers have been what i consider the most genuine relationships I’ve ever had.
To Experience True Friendship’s it will require us Practice True Sacrificial Love.
