"Some
friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers."- Proverbs 18:24
Luke records a conversation that took place between Jesus and a lawyer concerning the question "What
makes a real neighbor, or what makes a real friend?" The lawyer, apparently, was not a good neighbor and was looking
for a way to justify himself. And so Jesus, as he often times did, taught a lesson by speaking a parable.
He said,(Luke 10:30-10:37)“…
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded
him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31) And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him,
he passed by on the other side. 32) And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by
on the other side. 33) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion
on him, 34)And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him
to an inn, and took care of him. 35) And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host,
and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36) Which now
of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37) And he said, He that shewed mercy on
him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
The text above
describes the "extra mile effort" a real friend or a real neighbor will travel to help someone in trouble. A real
friend, or a real neighbor will make great personal sacrifice in order to be of assistance to someone in need - even if it
means placing themselves in a hostile environment Our world is built on the concept of what I would call, “DISPOSABLE
RELATIONSHIPS.” Something that is disposal is something that you use, for awhile, until you get out of it what you need
to get out of it… and then you throw it away.
This morning, I used
a disposal razor to shave with. It served its purpose well. And I’ve discovered that I can use a disposal razor a couple
of times, but if I use it more than that it becomes dull and irritating, and so… I throw it away! I use Q-tips to clean
my ears, in order to hear better. But I’ve learned that you can’t use Q-tips but once without risking infection.
Nobody wants an infection and so… we throw Q-tips away! Some people like “Wet Wipes.” You know…
those little moist towel lets of paper that can be used to clean-up things. But like any sanitary material, Wet Wipes can
only be used one time to clean up a mess, then you have to… throw them away!
And
of course, everyone in today’s modern world knows about disposable diapers. You put them on babies and sometimes adults,
but once they’re…. (you know) … everybody wants them removed and done away with.
Well… it’s
often true that - in life - some of the people we think are our friends turn out to be "disposables" who are with
us, either until they get what they want out of us, or until they use us up! As long as we don’t become an irritation;
as long as we don’t become a risk; as long as we remain clean… they’re our friends. But the minute we become
a risk or un-useful to them… they want to trash us!
The story is told of Jackie Robinson who was the first
African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in
every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began
to jeer him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the crowd booed. Then, without saying a word, shortstop Pee Wee Reese
went over and stood next to Jackie. He put his arm around him and faced the crowd. Suddenly the fans grew quiet. Robinson
later said that that arm around his shoulder saved his career.
Pee Wee Reese was a true friend
that day--the one who stood up and said "I believe in this man" If we are going to be true friends we need to look
for the best in others and stand with them when the rest of the world is jeering.
On
the 19th of November 1967, in the vicinity of Dak To, Viet Nam Chaplain Charlie Waters was moving with one of the companies
of his Battalion when it engaged a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain
Waters, with complete disregard for his safety, rushed forward to the line of contact. Unarmed and completely exposed, he
moved among, as well as in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, assisting in their evacuation, giving
words of encouragement, and administering the last rites to the dying. When a wounded paratrooper was standing in shock in
front of the assaulting forces, Chaplain Waters ran forward, picked the man up on his shoulders and carried him to safety.
At least 6 more times Chaplain Waters went outside the perimeter to rescue wounded soldiers, exposing himself to both friendly
and enemy fire. Chaplain Waters was giving aid to the wounded when he himself was mortally wounded. [from CH Waters’
Medal of Honor Citation]. On that day chaplain Waters was a true model of friendship, he made the ultimate sacrifice for the
men he cared about.
In his book "Another Chance," Dean Merrill, tells the story of a professional
man who lost his job and was forced to take a menial construction job. Day after day, he was subjected to the crude language
and humor of his boss and coworkers. One day he made a rookies mistake which made him the butt of jokes for days. Finally
he decided that he would work one more day and quit. That day happened to be payday. As the offensive foreman brought him
his check, he made his first civil comment to him in three weeks. "Hey, there’s a woman working in the front office
who knows you. Says she takes care of your kids sometimes." "Who?" He named the woman, who sometimes helped
in the nursery of the church where the man and his family worshiped. The foreman then went on with his rounds. When the man
opened his envelope, he found, along with his check, a handwritten note from the payroll clerk: "When one part of the
body of Christ suffers, we all suffer with it. “Just wanted you to know that I’m praying for you these days."
He stared at the note, astonished at God’s timing. He hadn’t even known the woman worked for this company. Here
at his lowest hour, she had given him the courage to go on, to push another wheelbarrow of mortar up that ramp. [Dean Merrill,
Another Chance, Zondervan, 1981, p. 138].
A good friend brings the spiritual aspect into daily life. When
a friend shares about a struggle they’re facing what stops us from offering a prayer right then and there? When a friend
is obviously failing to meet the Lord’s expectations, a true friend doesn’t just let it go. Because a true friend
is a spiritual influence on others.
Forty thousand fans were on hand in the Oakland stadium when Rickey
Henderson tied Lou Brock’s career stolen base record. According to USA Today Lou, who had left baseball in 1979, had
followed Henderson’s career and was excited about his success. Realizing that Rickey would set a new record, Brock said,
"I’ll be there. Do you think I’m going to miss it now? Rickey did in 12 years what took me 19. He’s
amazing."
What Lou Brock did in cheering on Rickey Henderson should be a way of life in the family of God.
Few circumstances give us a better opportunity to exhibit God’s grace than when someone succeeds and surpasses us in
an area of our own strength and reputation. [Our Daily Bread, June 19, 1994.] As good friends we need to be overjoyed
when our help and support plays a part in the success of another. Ronald Reagan once said there’s no limit to what we
can accomplish if we don’t care who gets the credit. We need to be friends who work for the success of others.
That’s why Benjamin Franklin once said, “Be slow in choosing a friend
and be slower in changing friends” In other words, be careful who you call “Friend” and when you find a
real friend… cherish it like you would a precious jewel!aren’t you happy that today we have Jesus as our Friend, Whose love…
- Lifts us out of the
commonplace into the supernatural…
- pulls us out the valley and places us on the mountaintop…
- takes
us out of the gutter of sin and places us in the throne room of God…
- rescues us from the dungeon of despair
and stands us on the balcony of heaven…
- pulls us out of the pits of frustration and fear, and sits us on the
mercy seat of God!
His love makes the burdens become lighter, the nights become brighter and friendships tighter! May the Lord give you Good Friends
