Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday January 25, 2006

In my calling hardly a day, let alone a week goes by without a challenge to true friendship. The Bible makes it plain that a friend loveth at all times, yet we humans, even those who are changed from the abnormal humans into kings, priest, sons of God etc really miss the boat when it comes to even pretending to be friends of the kind described in scripture.

Recently I became aware of two friends fighting against each other over 'principle.' When you hear of these kind of fights it is certain that further inquiry will reveal that 'principle' is not the problem, but usually something that in the light of long years will prove to be petty if not downright jealously of position, popularity or some other coveted though passing fancy.

When I was a kid, I was never far enough up the evolutionary scale to be considered a child, an old wino in our neighborhood told me, "Larry, always watch out for the bird who will give a shirt and then if it looks good on you, he will stab you in the back to get it back."

The above mentioned argument is about as near as the 'shirt' story as you will ever find. Oh, get me right, some unrighteous indiscretions are hung out on the line to see, all the while hoping others become so incensed by the improprieties that they fail to ask pertinent questions, the list is too long to go into here, but I assure you most outraged ministers fail in answering them, every time. And the poor bystander with glazed eyes from the shock of it all asks, himself and any who hear, "They were friends, weren't they?"

True Biblical friendship by its very nature, (lay down life for friends) demands a helpful response when a friend is in some kind of need. Many times this response can be a kind word to a detractor about the friend and sometimes a material response to the need. If we, as Christians, are to give a cold enemy a coat and a hungry enemy food, how much more are we to give a friend?

The father of our country, George Washington often said:

"Actions, not words, are the true characteristic marks of the attachment of friends."

When Jesus said concerning true friendship: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

It makes good sense to be careful in choosing friends and even more careful in abandoning them.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit

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