Friendships: Gifts from God

Philippians 2: 1-2

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

It has been quite a busy month for me starting this secular year. My Heavenly Father continues to share more wisdom, which allows me to mature each day in faith, as well as provide me with novel opportunities to share Christ’s Good News and love for others. Despite my busy day, I had a nice reunion with some dear friends I hadn’t seen in some time Friday evening. Since Sabbath begins after sunset on Fridays, I usually try to have all my errands and tasks for the day finished before sunset in order to begin relaxing in Christ with my family at home. However, there are times The Lord wants me to begin Sabbath by discussing with others, whether Believers or not, how Christ Jesus intimately cares about the topics that concern them for that day or week. On two separate occasions, I reunited with friends yesterday evening catching up on recent events & concerns as we’re enduring through these complex & sinister Last Days. We spoke about how the various things we were going through in our lives, whether on a physical or spiritual level, can be traced back to truths in God’s Holy Word. We all recognized how the worldly chaos surrounding us is Bible prophesy being actively fulfilled, and that we are not alone in our preparations for Jesus’ glorious return. We had so many topics to discuss, but we still departed being filled with encouragement, comfort, and joy in the Holy Spirit knowing we had fellow siblings in Christ sharing the journey.

Friendships and companionships yoked in Jesus Christ are truly gifts of God’s love for us. In Luke 17, Jesus prayed not only for his current followers, but also for those of us that would come to believe in Him throughout history in order that we’d all be “one” (yoked in complete agreement) in Christ with Our Father. As a result, we’d all share in the Holy Spirit how to pray for and encourage one another to endure this difficult world until Christ’s return. When friendships and relationships do not have The Lord as the nucleus, and their foundations do not reflect the truths in God’s Word, the fruit yields profound discord, distention, and distraction from God’s purpose for your life. It can be a dangerous path to be lead away from God’s love and relationship with you as a result of bad partnerships.

Therefore, take stock of those whom you are associated with in your life, and be mindful of what is your relationship with them truly based on. Consider the “spirit” that might be behind them in the topics you tend to discuss (or not discuss), the activities you tend to do, and the environments you tend to frequent. If the relationship/friendship falls short of assisting your walk & maturity in Christ, doesn’t seek to protect & comfort you in prayer, or steers you away from God’s best in your life, seriously reconsider continuing with those individuals. One friend or partner in Christ is worth more than the destructive union with many without Christ!

1 Corinthians 1: 10

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

~Equallyoked~

Copyright V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers

For the last 2 decades of my life, I have contemplated the meaning of 2 Corinthians 6:14, and have discovered in my latter years how far-reaching this passage is concerning Christ-centered love. There are so many ways to be unequally yoked, as the Word of God clearly outlines , often times resulting in more discord with a fellow believer than would be expected. Did you know that you can be “unequally yoked” with a another Christian? 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 runs deeper than the obvious not pairing your heart with an unbeliever in Christ; a Christian couple can have subtle differences that may seem on the surface as a hairline crack that in time reveals a hidden canyon underneath! Issues in temperaments, financial perspectives, education, communication styles, and parenting (to name a few) can truly wreck the foundation of a Christian relationship or courtship.

However, the most paramount of all is being unequally yoked in where each follower’s relationship stands with Christ. What do I mean by this? Suffice it to say, each believer’s journey with Christ is unique and is what makes Jesus such a personal Savior who can meet us where we’re at and develop/strengthen our relationship with him accordingly. Nonetheless, there are certain foundational elements in our beliefs in who God-Jesus-Holy Spirit is and His Word that should unify all Christians (1 Corinthians 12:12). If the building blocks of faith, salvation, and worship of Our Creator is in discord, how can a couple/friendship/business partnership/family fortify each other’s growth in The Lord ? What are the things that can’t be compromised on, and what can be?

It’s already challenging enough to nourish kinships of love in this world without the difficulty of also finding compatibility with another believer on topics we should be at peace with. However, I thank Our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) for exemplifying love and elements of companionship in His relationship with us. With His Word as an infallible guide, we can endeavor to understand and appreciate the dynamics of our own courtships & relationships. As a result, we can furnish our hope in materializing an earthly companionship centered in Christ and satisfying in everlasting love.