Image via Wikipedia

When someone offered you a hand while you are in dire need, the normal reflex of your body and mind would be to grab it. Somehow, you are going to repay that person back when the right time will come. It became a common notion that well-off individuals are the ones who don’t think twice to lend their third hand to the needy and the poor are the beneficiaries. Though that doesn’t happened all the time, it is widely seen in the picture and you would never be amazed to see friendship transpired between a well-heeled junky and a modest brainy geek and vice versa. Some friendship in fairness is made out of genuine intention of camaraderie.

Some affluent fellows ran out of ideas on how and where to spend their bucks and so they need an accomplice to do the crime. Some were created out of boredom and while one is looking for a place where she can call home. Some destitute view this as an opportunity to have a taste of what it’s like to be up there. How would it feel to be elite? To walk beside a glamorous persona would make you feel like one. A friendship that uses each other to escape from their abode of fear won’t last long. They will realize that either one of them will not grow and sooner or later one of them will give up. Most of the time, the abused party made the first move of calling the friendship a quit.

You don’t have to reach a label in the society to befriend somebody or to be a friend to somebody. Many people will appreciate you for being you and not by the qualities you possessed or the family that tailed on your name. You can be the poorest in the world but will still have the wealth of having many friends. Gaining the trust of others will win you their company.

Don’t think that you can use the fortune and fame of others in exchange of your friendship. True friendship doesn’t need a pay off. It is given freely without expecting anything in return. It is giving your heart and trust and treats somebody like you wanna be treated. You can only reap what you’ve planted. Conversely don’t use your money and power to earn friends coz many people live with principles and that is priceless for them. Don’t use their weakness to manipulate them.

If the friendship is built from respect, I’m sure it will go a long way. You may have rocky bottoms once in a while which are pretty normal in any relationship but at the end of the day, a sincere talk and make-up will pull back the strings again. Understanding each other flaws and strengths will help you extend more years to your friendship. It’s okay to engaged in healthy competition coz it will help you grow as an individual. Remember, one day you have to move alone without the other shadow coz life is an individual risk and tandem may not always be welcome.

Remember, a good friend doesn’t always take and to become a good friend doesn’t always require you to give. If it’s a give and take relationship then it is called FRIENDSHIP.

Image via Wikipedia

What distinguishes such from a mere acquaintance? Why are having true friends something worthwhile?  Turning to the pares of the Holy Scripture, we learn that value of friendship thus:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up” (Eccles. 4:9-10, New International Version)

Indeed, as God’s word shows us, friendship is truly a good thing.  At various times in our life, when crisis or personal tragedy comes, having a friend beside us can lift our spirits up.

True friendship

Clearly then, in the eyes of our Creator, friendship is a good thing. In fact, as you can see from the verse we have just quoted, a friend is a good thing to have and it is even better to have friends! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also talked about a characteristic of true friendship to his people: “Greater love has no one that this that he lay down his life for his friends”

(John 15:13) Here, Jesus speaks how a true friend can express what he feels.  According to Jesus, one way someone can express his friendship is through his willingness to give up something valuable to him for the one he regards as a true friend.

Beware of false friends

False friends or acquaintances can fool some people.  They can be very deceptive.  That is why the apostle gave such warning that we should not be fooled by them.  He also mentioned the result if we would not be careful, saying that even our good character could be corrupted. 

It is easy then to see that now all friends are good.  Disaster can strike us if we are not very careful in choosing our friends and those whom we spend time with.  What are some of the destructive habits that false friends may try to lead us according to the Bible?

“Listen my son, be wise and give serious thought to the way you live.  Don’t associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food.  Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty.  If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags”

(Proverbs 23:19-21, TEV).  These kinds of friends will not encourage us to do what is good for us.

What they are, in fact, will be the kind of influence they will try to wield.  King Solomon described their actions like this: “Son, don’t go with people like that.  Stay away from them. 

They can’t wait to do something bad.  They’re always ready to kill” (Proverbs 1:15-16, Ibid.)

Choose your friends

It is normal for young people to have a desire to fit in, and be accepted by their peer group. And as we have learned it the initial verses we quoted, the normal youthful tendency toward the pursuit of companionship, independence, and the building of a circle of friends wherein one spends much of his time is not something that God is against, or that He prohibits. 

However, as we have also seen, He clearly warns about being careful in the choices one makes concerning friendship.  In one’s passion for companionship and friendship, what guidance does

God give to His people when choosing the type of person to spend time with and include encircle of our acquaintances? “Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help”

(II Timothy 2:22, Ibid.)

There is an example recorded in the Bible of a true servant of God who spoke of the criteria he used when choosing one who he would consider in his circle of friends.  The writings of

King David recorded: “I am a friend of all who serve you, of all who obey your laws”

(Psalm 119:63, Ibid.)

Members of the Church of Christ therefore extend their invitation to everyone they meet at school, at work, and in all their journeys in this life to become a true servant of God, here inside the true Church of Christ” which is  a great act of friendship one can extend to another.

Picture Source

This article is dedicated to the great importance of true friendship. While it takes much time and often many years to truly know you have a true, true friend, the magic that occurs when you have one is incredible. This article is about some of my fond thoughts regarding a lady I admire greatly and whom I know I am lucky to call my friend.

I have a girl friend that I have been friends with for about eight years. She and I laugh about this because for the past few years we have been saying we have been friends eight years. Truth is I cannot remember the exact number of years, but through these years she and I have gotten to the point where I truly feel like we can say anything to each other and we will always be there for the other. She is someone who I truly believe only has my best interests in mind and vice versa.

Throughout the years she and I have opened up about the other people in our lives that have hurt us, were unkind to us, etc. We have shared things with each other that no other person knows about us. We have even shared some of the most spiritually amazing experiences I have had in my life.

For example, on a road trip back from Las Vegas were talking and I looked just outside her window and two white doves were flying beside the car. I was completely amazed. I had driven to Las Vegas, from California, more times than I can remember and never once had I seen any doves flying through the desert much less right next to my car! I felt like it was a sign from above, two angels sent to reflect the two angels sitting in the car. It was beautiful, moving and just one of the many experiences I will always hold closest to my heart.

Though much in my life has taught me to be more cautious with people than maybe most people are, everyday she is in my life, I know deeper in my heart that I am beyond blessed to be able to call her my friend. While you never know what life brings and if and when people will change, when you continue to follow your heart, you do end up with the very best things in life, including friends.

I wish you all the very best things in life always.

Joie Schmidt © Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved.

==================================================================

Dreams of the Heart – volume I by Joie Schmidt is available:

  * Volume I: Amazon Kindle, Adobe Reader, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iBooks

Dreams of the Heart – volume II is available:

  * Volume II: Amazon Kindle, Adobe Reader

———> Stay tuned . . . vol. II will soon be available on iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iBooks!

(*In memoriam of the tragedy in Japan all proceeds from – volume I – sales will go to the relief efforts until 3/11/12)

==================================================================

For more great reading:

• Run Away With Me
• Love is Worth the Risk
• If I Tell You I Love You
• Quotes to Lift Your Spirit
• Tie a Knot and Hang On
• Boost Your Self Esteem Easily
• You Must Lift Others to be Successful
• Secrets for Finding Love and Commitment