What is “friendship?”
Well, the biblical definition is a close trusting relationship between two people.
By those standards, couldn’t more of us be friends with one another? There is a lot of opportunity to grow here, especially when looking out for our homeless brothers and sisters. When you think about “giving” and “receiving” donations, large and small, it’s not all about money. It’s time, trust, companionship, good will, and humor.
Indeed, in the Holy Bible it says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
It goes on to say, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Keeping this in our hearts, we can use hospitality to destroy hostility and bring homelessness to an end! John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Once again: friends — we can all stand to have more of them in our community. What a friendship we have when we give cheerfully to those in need. And when we receive cheerfully from those who may have more than they need.
The Lord Jesus Christ called his followers friends and he gave them the opportunity to share His mission. As our companion for life, Jesus walks with us. He listens to our heartaches and our desires. When we’re lonely and down-hearted, our friend Jesus Christ keeps company with us. And that companionship is tighter when we love each other as friends, too.
Walking through the crowded alleys and dangerous roadways of our troubled world, we can count on the Lord’s friendship. For we all walk by faith and not by sight. And all the evil around us all is no match for the God that is within us. What a friendship that is or can be.
Heavenly Father, our friends will fail us, and we will fail them. But you never fail, and you promised to be with us to the very end of time. We must be brave, to forge new friendships and mend the broken friendships in our lives. Help us show our gratitude by serving You, faithfully today and every day. Amen.
Love, always.
