The truth about friendship

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends…”

John 15:13-15

Biblical Wisdom

In your MD5 experience, you most likely heard the phrase, "Show me your friends, and I will show you your future."

This statement was derived from Proverbs 13:20: "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

A Few Friend Truths

1. Our relationships shape who we become, good or bad.

2. God created us for relationships.

3. They require time, effort, and intentionality to forge.

However, the question for us as followers of Christ isn't just about what we get from friendships, but what we can give.

Our Calling

We are called to love others as Christ loves us.

In my Sunday morning Bible Study class, we've been studying 1 John, which teaches us what true love is: the love of God, because God is love. The way Christ loved people in his 33 years on earth was to give all that he had and the truth of God with no guarantee that He would receive any love in return.

When we love people with a Christ-like love—praying, encouraging, and warning of the dangers of unrepentant sin and spiritual death—it is a challenge. However, my motivation to stay the course is that I know this honors God and shows the most powerful kind of love to people, Agape love.

The Goal

By definition, Agape love is selfless and unconditional. This means we are to love people well—both Christians and non-Christians alike.

For non-believers, our love may be the only glimpse of Christ they see. For fellow believers, our love should be transparent, vulnerable, and encouraging. We should be willing to have tough conversations or walk through grief with people. Christ is the ultimate friend who loves us at all times, even through adversity, and will never let us down. His unconditional love for us empowers us to be the kind of friends we ought to be to others.

Our Challenge

Just as iron sharpens iron, we are to sharpen one another. This requires resolve and toughness but also the tenderness that Christ modeled in his earthly ministry.

So, let’s be the kind of friends who are present, transparent, and who love others with the same selfless love that God has shown us.

The Friend “F” Challenges

Use one of the Friend "F" challenges if you don't already. Either 2 for Tuesday or Friend Friday.

Be intentional about calling or texting 2 friends a week to either pray with them, encourage them, reconnect with them or all three.

If you commit to doing this you may gain some more friends. However, most importantly you will show and share the love of Jesus in a practical way that could change someone's life forever!

Ryan Johnson

MD5 Facilitator