“A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 ESV
A Thankfulness List
We’ve all got a lot to be thankful for this time of year: our savior’s sacrifice, our families, health, etc. The list could be pretty long if I’m being honest. But one thing that I’ve become more thankful for as I get older is, true friends. Not just a “hey man how are you doing” friend but a “I need help right now no questions asked kind of friend.”
A Man of Many Companions
Sadly recent studies have shown a staggering increase in loneliness and a matching decline in friendship among men. Why is that? I believe it is because men are satisfied with being a “man of many companions.” It can be a status thing: everyone likes a good name drop. It could be it’s easier to have companions than it is a true friend. It takes sacrifice, commitment, fostering, and time to create a true friend.
Another Challenge
As MD5 men, we’ve all heard of the 6 pallbearer challenge, but I recently heard the term a “4 corner friend.” The podcaster was referring to the Mark 2:1-12 where 4 men lowered the lame man through a roof to see Jesus. It’s a pretty brief story but Mark 2:1-4 involves the friends. We see a lame man. Odds are he’s been like that for some time and 4 men carry him to see Jesus. It says in v4 that they couldn’t get close enough so they climbed the roof, made a hole, and lowered him to Jesus. You know the rest of the story.
Probable Scenario
But think about what happened. It is unlikely that the lame man asked to be carried there. (Remember men don’t like to/won’t ask for help). It is much more likely that the 4 men saw a need in their friend and without being asked attended to that need. Then when they met an obstacle, they didn’t say “we’ll we tried, lets go home.” No! They climbed a roof, hoisted a man on that roof, dug a hole in that roof, and then finally lowered him to see Jesus.
I Want Friends Like This
I don’t know about you, but I want friends and I want to be a friend that is a “4 corner” friend. To be sure, you can’t be a “4 corner” friend to everyone. Close your eyes think. Who could you count on to carry you? Who would you be willing to carry?
Find those men that you can be a 4 corner friend with and invest. Cultivate and grow that relationship. It won’t be easy, but nothing worth doing is. When you have those 4 corner friends, the trials of life will be easier because the burden can be shared. You’ll certainly have a little more to be thankful for and that 6 pallbearer challenge will be a breeze.
Thad Hardin
MD5 Facilitator
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