Recently, one of my daughters traveled with me out of town. Her long time, childhood friend met her after driving three hours from her city to the place we were staying. This friend was only able to stay for one hour because she had to drive the three hours back to her city to go to work that evening. When we drove up to the hotel, my daughter and her friend hugged and began conversing with each another as if there had been no time lost between them. I was so blessed by this display of love and true friendship.
There is a saying which is, “out of sight, out of mind.” When a person is no longer able to “see” a friend then the friendship is over. Distance means nothing because we have telephones, text messaging, facebook and email to keep friendships alive and updated. It is really sad for people who cannot maintain healthy relationships for any length of time, or for changes that come into our lives.
I have said this before and I will say it again, I am blessed beyond measure to have the friends I have. I love my friends and I know they love me. Now I must say this, there was a time I didn’t have faithful friends and when the storms of life blew my way, I soon found out who my true friends were. It's a painful thing to go through, but we move on. Jesus said, “I no longer call you servant, but friend. He called Judas “friend” in the Garden of Gethsemane, after Judas gave him that betrayal kiss. The kiss of a betrayer is a hard thing to swallow, but Jesus knew Judas would betray him when he called him, “friend.” The problem with Judas was that he didn’t love Jesus, but wanted to be a part of the “new Kingdom,” that Jesus spoke about. Judas was Jesus' friend and not the other way around. We call Judas' kiss, the “kiss of death.” I think most people have experienced a situation where they were told by someone that they loved them and were betrayed or rejected. Many people will profess love, but have no idea what love really is.
How often do we use the word, “love” and don’t mean it? Relationships fail daily because someone used the word, “love” recklessly. Real love endures. We choose to love and if we are married, we choose to stay in a committed relationship that is to be a blessing to our children and society. Marital love should last become of the covenant we made before our God and witnesses, which is why we call it a marital vow. We should keep our vows to stay in a committed, faithful relationship, but we should also do what we need to do to make our marriage enjoyable. Christians and married folks are told to submit to one another, for Christ sake.
Love covers a multitude of sins, offenses, problems, situations and circumstances. Love remains even though the most difficult storms of life comes to test us. "I love you," are three easy words to say, but are not that easy to do. Jesus desires us to test our love for Him by stating, “if you love Me, then you will keep My commandments.” Quite simply put; love demonstrates itself. God is love, and when we walk in love we look like Him. We will know when we are loved because we won’t get a bag of promises with nothing to show for it and by the same token, we demonstrate our love others by our treatment of them. Love is a spirit. We “feel” love; we experience love and we respond to love. Of course, there are those who mistreat others who love them, because they see these people as weaklings. Hurt people; hurt people. Troubled people who have some emotional issues can’t receive those who love them and properly respond with love. How awful it must be to reject love; but we have done this with Christ’s sacrifice. We love Him because He first loves us. While we were yet sinners, He died for us. He loved us, gave His life and showered us with His grace. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother and Jesus is that friend.
Here’s a list to help you determine your love barometer. If you see where you are lacking in your love walk toward your mate, friends, siblings, Church members or co-workers, now is the time to check yourself and get it right.
What is love?
• Love is patient (enduring, serene, tolerant, uncomplaining)
• Love is kind (compassionate, gentleness, thoughtfulness, considerate, sympathetic)
• Love is not jealous (envious or resentful)
• Love does not brag (boast, show off, sing your own praises, or talk big)
• Love is not arrogant (conceited, haughty, egotistical, bigheaded, superior, proud or condescending).
• Does not act unbecoming (unsuitable, unattractive behavior)
• It does not seek its own (selfish)
• Is not provoked (aggravated, annoyed, irritated)
• Does not take into account a wrong suffered
• Does not rejoice in unrighteousness (wickedness, sinful, evil or unjust)
• But rejoice with the truth
• Bear all things
• Hopes all things
• Endures all things
• Love never fails…
1Corithians 13:4-7
A man who desires friends must show himself friendly. To those who feel alone but desire a good friend, I pray that God will give you the courage to make new friends and to be a blessing to them.
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