Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday November 23, 2006

Thanksgiving!! A day of giving thanks for multiplied bounty on our nation. To list the manifestations of His bounty on us as a people would take the pages of a long book. I have made a concentrated effort this year to thank the Lord in the simplest way possible for friends and to thank Him for making my responsibilities to my friends known to me.

A well meaning critic, I say 'well meaning' out of courtesy, for I well know he meant to ridicule my feeble efforts at organizing words to help folks, said, "Larry, the trouble with your musings on friendship is that they are more like how we who are in love should treat one another." The trouble with? What planet is my critic from? How on this planet could a knowledgeable person separate friend and love? The two are so intertwined as to be more joined than Siamese Twins. A major problem with moderns who marry is that they fail to be or become true friends.

An article on word studies I penned into the margin of my Bible states:

"Is there a difference between friendship and love? Apparently not. In Middle English the word 'friend' means 'lover,' and it stems from a word in Old Gothic meaning 'to love.' If anything, it implies a deeper kind of love, one that goes beyond obligation."

To be sure there are certain limitations to the expression of friend love and that of married persons, and it is at this level that you must be super careful to establish controls to stay within scriptural limits. It is beyond mere wisdom to develop your very best friendship with you spouse.

The 'Old Gothic' meaning of friendship will serve you well in determining the level of friendship your associates extend to you and you to them. Most supposed friendships are not that at all, but are liaisons of professional, or other mutual interests, and you need to take the time and sort through these good relationships and clearly define which are in reality friendships based on the person and not on mutual gain, or even personal gain.

I like the part of the definition that states: 'A deeper kind of love, one that goes beyond obligation.' Most of us feel good if at the end of day, we 'have met our obligations.' This is good, but I must ask the Lord Jesus to help me to do more than friendship expects, just as He did on Calvary. I guarantee that you will have very few friends to which you are willing and ready to apply the 'greater love' principle of John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

And you can bet the farm you have very few, if any, who feel the 'greater love' principle toward you. Not to worry, Christ has this love for you and has already demonstrated its reality on Calvary.

How close to this kind of love are you to those whom think you are their closest friend?

Look very closely at the above question.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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