“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17
Starsky and Hutch
Chip and Dale
Turner and Hooch
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Tolkien and Lewis
The Ratpack...
C'mon you know the words from Toy Story
“You’ve got friend in me, You’ve got a friend in me.
You got troubles, and I got them too.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you
We stick together, we can see it through.
Cause you’ve got a friend in me.
Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me.”
Who’s the Woody to your Buzz Lightyear?
God said it wasn’t good for man to be alone, but sadly as we get older, men tend to downsize their close friends until they don’t have anyone left but acquaintances that they like.
That’s not friendship.
Friendship is work. A friend is defined by Webster’s as “one attached to another by affection or esteem.” Note the word “attached.” Attached means to latch onto or fixed onto. It’s action. It’s not a passive thing to cultivate and maintain friendships. Can you pick 6 men that fit that definition. Can you pick 5? What about 4? Maybe 3? At least 2? Only 1?
As men we have to emulate David and Jonathan
Read 1 Samuel 19-20 to see what it means to be a friend. David and Jonathan’s relationship had 4 major qualities that we should strive to emulate with our own friends as we try to cultivate those deep relationships with other men. They were honest, open, loving, and went too battle for each other. I have 2 brothers that I consider my best friends. That’s not enough. I/We have to work to expand our network of brothers in Christ.
There will be a time when we all need a friend and will be called to be a friend.
Be Prepared
Be Honest
Be Open
Be Loving
And like your mom said on your first day of Kindergarten, “Go make a friend.”
Thad Hardin
MD5 Facilitator
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