As Christians we are to show others the Jesus that lives in us. Not only by the words we say but also by our actions. With the exception of our families, those closest to us are our friends. It's our job to show our friends the Christ that lives in us in everything we do. Let's take a moment and look at two examples of friends and how they reaction when their friend is in need.
Bad Friends
The first example we want to focus on is Job. In the book of Job, the Bible says that Job was a servant of the Lord and was blameless and upright. While God and Satan are discussing Job, Satan blames Job's nature on the blessings he received from God.
God then gives Satan permission the first time to test Job but not to harm him physically. When this doesn't affect Job's obedience to God then Satan is allowed by God to harm Job but Satan is not permitted to kill Job. All the while Job stays faithful to the Lord.
It's interesting to point out that Satan is under God’s authority because he is commanded to come before God. We also see that Satan is truly on the earth and causing grief and strife where he goes. God points out to Satan that even though God permitted Satan to punish Job, he has still remained faithful. God allowed Satan to work against Job, but God was always there protecting Job and limiting what Satan can do. Remember that in your life when Satan attacks you that God is always there to help and provide for you.
Job’s entire body was covered with sores. In Biblical times, one remedy for this would be to cut open the sores, allow them to drain and then cleanse the wounds with ashes. In this case, the wounds were so bad that Job sat in the ashes.
Job 2: 9-10
Have you ever had friends who like to point out blame? This is what Job’s wife like to do apparently. Instead of being supportive and being there for her husband she starts bossing him around and telling him how he should act. We need to be careful of these kinds of people during troubled times because they will try to lead us down the wrong path.
Job apparently knew this because he questioned her motives for following God when it was going good but cursing him with the going got rough. Be careful who you surround yourself with and make sure they are true Christians.
Job 2: 11-13
This story shows both the worse types of people to associate yourself with and the best. Job’s friends heard of his grief and did what? They came to him.
Once they arrived, did they instantly start telling his what he should do or try to comfort him? No, instead they cried with him and were there for him for seven days. They showed their love for him by just being there. Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone who is hurting is to just be there.
Now had we stopped right here we could say that Job had the best friends in the world. The problem is that they didn't stop here. They didn't speak until Job spoke but when they did speak, boy did they have a lot to say. In fact, they just assumed that all of this was happening because Job had hidden sin. When Job states that he hasn't sinned to deserve this his friends then become harsher with their accusations.
At this point we need to point out something. Your job is to love people like Jesus did....unconditionally.
Good Friends
Let's look at another story of friends who are there. In this story we find that Jesus is teaching and is in a house that is so crowded there is no way in or out.
In to the story comes a man who is paralyzed and needs to be healed. His friends carry him on a stretcher all the way to the house only to find that their way is blocked by people. Did they stop there or just quit? No, they found a way.
They tore the roof off of the house and lowered their friend down right in front of Jesus.
When you have a friend in need, the only place to take them is right in front of Jesus.
These friends did not give up or allow their friend to go unseen. They had faith the Jesus would take care of the need. They didn't know how, they just had faith that he would.
My Personal Friend Story
About a year ago, we were getting decals placed on the side of the 34' Mustang Ministries Car Hauler. So while I was hauling the Hauler back, I was borrowing a 1993 F350 Dually. The last time I had borrowed it they had told me that the transmission seal was leaking so when the truck was pulling hard a little fluid would leak out and smoke a little.
Things were going fine until about a mile before we got to Deacon Dave's house. The truck started smoking A WHOLE LOT. I found out later from Roushelle it was smoking so much that the cars following me couldn't see me or even the lane beside them.
So I pull into the center lane getting ready to turn onto the side road off the highway that Deacon and Co-Pilot live on.....that's when I saw Co-pilot flying up the road on a four wheeler yelling something and waving her hands.
I thought she was just telling me about the smoke so I pulled on off the highway and up toward her. Just then Roushelle calls my cell phone and two trucks come flying up the road and stop. The guys jump out with fire extinguishers as I get out of the truck.
That's when I heard what Co-pilot was saying and I looked back at the truck.
THE ENTIRE UNDERNEATH WAS ON FIRE!Apparently I had been on fire for about a mile when an oil line came loose and started leaking onto the exhaust.
In about 5 minutes the fire was out, we had a bunch of guys there with extinguishers, the fire department, rescue, and police all showed up as well.
A neighbor helped us get the car hauler to Deacon's place and then we pulled the truck back home. In my time of need everyone jumped in and helped. They didn't sit and watch, or try to tell me what I did wrong, they were there for me, no matter what.
Where is your faith?
Will you criticize your friends or comfort them?
Do you run to help or just stand by and watch?
Which type of friend are you to those around you? Pray and let God show you the proper way to be a Christian friend.
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