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| Volume 24 Number 10 October 2022 |
Page 13 |
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| Volume 24 Number 10 October 2022 |
Page 13 |
Friendliness
Martha Lynn Rushmore
What is a friend? A dictionary definition says a friend is “one attracted to another by affection or esteem, a favored companion.” My definition of a “friend” is one on whom I can depend – one to whom I can tell personal information and know she will not tell anyone. A friend can be someone you do not see very often, but when you get together, you pick up right where you left off. It is just like you were never separated. Proverbs 18:24 defines a friend thusly, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (NKJV).
Not everyone has a person on whom she can rely. This is so sad. Everyone needs someone. There may be reasons people do not have friends. If we cannot show ourselves to be friendly, why would we think we should have friends? We must put ourselves out to others to make friends, rather than to just sit back and let them come to you. Though you may be timid, take the first step by introducing yourself to others. You can do this if you set your mind to it. Remember God is on your side, and He will give you the strength to do the Christian thing that needs to be done.
If one is mean or snobbish, he or she cannot expect to have someone befriend him or her. On the other hand, sometimes one who is very shy, afraid to talk, does not have close friends. Some people are very shy, and others are outgoing. Which category describes you? As for me, it all depends on the situation in which I find myself. If it is one on one, I am usually able to start a conversation, but if there is a crowd of people, I sometimes have a harder time approaching others. I usually must push myself. For instance, if I see visitors at Bible class or worship services, I will make myself go and speak to them. When I do this, it does two things; one, it makes the visitor feel welcome, and second, it helps give me more confidence to go introduce myself the next time we have visitors.
When you became a Christian, did you know the members of the congregation where you would be attending? If you were a child of that congregation, of course you knew most of the families. If you were an adult when you learned the truth and became a Christian, most likely you knew the one who converted you to Christ but few or no one else in the congregation.
If you are a shy person and just started attending a new congregation, what do you do? Do you sit in the back of the auditorium and leave as soon as the closing prayer is over, or maybe as soon as the preacher is done preaching? If you do this, how are you going to learn the members of the church who are your brothers and sisters? Maybe you stay and the preacher and elders speak to you and no one else does. How does this make you feel? Does this make you feel welcome and loved as a sister in Christ? Of course not! On the other hand, if you stay and a lot of the members speak to you and tell you how glad they are to have you in the congregation, how does this make you feel? Does this give you a sense of belonging to a friendly family of God? Which would you like better? That’s, of course, a rhetorical question. How should we conduct ourselves? That’s a rhetorical question, too!
True friendship goes two ways; friendship is not just one-sided. Companionship or friendship is not being a taker and not being a giver; it is both in a true friendship. We are told In Luke 6:31 to do to others as we want to be treated. We would not want others to take advantage of us, and neither should we take advantage of them. We are to be there for each other in true friendship. We are told in Romans 12:15 to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” In other words, we are to be happy when our friends are happy and cry with them when things are not going well for them.
There are times we must put ourselves out there to others even if it means we will not be in our comfort zone. Each time we get out of this area in our life, it will be much easier to do it again and again. Do not be afraid; those with whom you are making this effort may be in the same place you are or even much shier. Remember, God is on your side when you are trying to do the right thing. Also, the devil is always trying to hold you back from doing right. Who will you obey – God or the devil?
Sight: Physical and Spiritual
Beth Johnson
“And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9 NKJV). Even though the magnificence of the Garden of Eden does not exist today, the world around us is still breathtakingly beautiful to human eyes. Should we love the beauty we see in the world? What do the Scriptures say will happen to this physical world one day (2 Peter 3:10-14)? Are we wise when we love something that will be burned up? Should we divide our love, our hearts and our time between both worlds, or should we give ourselves totally to the eternal? What does the Lord say in Colossians 3:1-2? “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
We get a brief glimpse into the spiritual world from Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:25-26. “At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.’” By this and similar passages we understand there are two kinds of sight, and that spiritually blind people cannot see the spiritual, eternal world.
One will find by digging deeply into the Word of God that there are many different kinds of sight described in Scripture (2 Corinthians 5:7). The more faith one has in God’s Word, the more sight he has into the spiritual realm. Unfortunately, some brethren in New Testament times lost what little spiritual sight they had in the beginning (2 Peter 1:9).
What did the Centurion, who wanted Jesus to heal his servant, see that none of the others were able to see (Matthew 8:5-10)? He saw into the spiritual realm where a hierarchy of heavenly beings was working for the Master. Whenever we read the account of the Syrophenician woman, who understood that Christ was sent to the Jews (Mark 7:25-30), are we humbled by her acceptance of her position as a Greek? Where are those few souls today who have such faith in God’s work?
God does not miss anything (Romans 8:28). How many see that God actively feeds the birds today (Matthew 6:26)? How many can see that God actively clothes the grass of the field (Matthew 6:28-30)? Where is the comfort if God is only passively watching the sparrow fall to the ground (Matthew 10:28-29)? Where is the comfort for us if He promises to watch us die like the sparrow and do nothing? Although Moses and the Israelites could not see God when they went out to fight their enemies, God was with them to fight for them (Deuteronomy 20:3-4). God is very much at work protecting us every moment of every day (1 Corinthians 10:13). We need to have faith to seek God boldly for every need (Hebrews 4:16).
How many can see that God is the One Who works in the hearts of men (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)? God can increase the fruits of our righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10). God warns us that He will respond to anyone who despises His children and that His angels always behold the Father’s face on their behalf (Matthew 18:10). How many can see God putting Jesus’ enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25)?
Paul had faith that God opens the eyes of His children’s understanding (2 Timothy 2:7). The apostle also had faith that God was active in training His children (Hebrews 12:5-11). Paul had faith that God was actively at work in the hearts of His sons and daughters (Philippians 2:13).
Jesus knew that His purpose in coming to the earth was to work on men’s eyes (John 9:39-41). “And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see. Therefore your sin remains.’”
God rewards those who diligently seek Him, if they have faith that He will reward them (Hebrews 11:6). Those who receive God’s help must believe in that help (James 1:5-8). We must not allow our hearts to doubt even a little. Some comfort themselves that if God worked miracles today, they would believe that He answers prayers (Matthew 13:54-58). Even during the time of miracles, many did not believe them (Mark 6:6). The Jews’ eyes were closed even though they saw God’s wonderful works (Luke 19:41-42). The Israelites in the wilderness did not believe in God’s work though they themselves had seen many of His miracles (Hebrews 3:16-19).
If we believe Him and trust Him, we will see the riches of the glory of His inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). What a beautiful sight that will be!
