May 19, 2018 (Saturday)
Friends are very important.
Many of the people we meet along life’s highway are acquaintances that we never get to know well. Our relationship is like “bumper cars.” We meet each other but we move on to the next car in the rink. Then we go on to something else, remembering with pleasure that we bumped into somebody.
Others are casual friends. We know them but not well. They are like temporary passengers in our car. We have good conversations together, but we soon go our separate ways. We never really get to know each other as close friends.
And then there are the close friends. These people are precious indeed to us. Sometimes they are family members. Our friendship may start as casual, but it gets more important as time goes by. We may not be related by blood, but we are part of each other just the same. As we thank God for our blessings, let us always thank Him for the friends He has given us.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV shows us the value of friendship:
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him–a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Here’s a beautiful poem about friends, based upon Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees:”
FRIENDS
I think that God will never send,
A gift so precious as a friend.
A friend who always understands.
And fills each need as it demands.
Whose loyalty will stand the test.
When skies are bright or overcast.
Who sees the faults that merit blame.
But keeps on loving just the same.
Who does far more than creeds could do.
To make us good to make us true.
Earth’s gifts a sweet contentment lend.
But only God can give a friend!
..Rosalie Carter
The beautiful hymn, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” is usually sung at the close of a service, but it has more than one verse, and could well serve as a regular hymn. It has a marvelous message for us.
Words: John Fawcett (1782)
Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
1 Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
2 Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
3 We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4 When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
5 This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives
and waits to see the day.
6 From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin, we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.