Faithful Friendships
by Debbie Poer
As I looked out over the gathering at our 50th wedding anniversary celebration in October I realized the room was filled with people exemplifying faithful friendships. There were members of the family I was born into—Mom, siblings and in-laws, nieces, nephews, an aunt and uncle and several cousins—my earliest life friends. There were several members of my first life group – people I have walked life with for more than 50 years. Two groups were friendships developed over years of serving in ministry with TCM and e2. At other tables there were friends from my current life groups – newer friendships built here in Indiana and in Tennessee. And there were other people – friendships I have gathered along life’s journey – Nancy, Alicia, Roger.
One of the greatest examples of faithful friendship we read about in Scripture is the friendship between David and Jonathan. In our first introduction to that friendship, we read that…
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. … And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. (1 Samuel 18:1, 3, NIV)
And their friendship only deepened from there! Jonathan spoke well of David (1 Samuel 19:4); he looked after David (1 Samuel 20:12); it was a friendship to last a lifetime (1 Samuel 20:42).
While I haven’t made an official covenant with any of my faithful friends – Jonathan gave David his robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt (1 Samuel 18:4) we have surely committed to one another in a variety of ways. Meals and conversation have been shared, we have laughed and cried together, prayers have been said with and over one another, and we have sat vigil with one another as children and spouses passed from this life into the next.
But all of that has not come about without some intentionality. Yes, we initially became friends because something “clicked” between our personalities, but that is not enough to create and maintain faithful friendships. In the early days of friendship, we might have made a special effort to call one another or take a meal when someone was ill. However, over time those special efforts became less and less and the desire to do for and be near someone and look out for their well-being became more and more.
For those of you reading this, who are your faithful friends? Have you said thank you to them recently? Who are you a faithful friend to? Are their areas of those friendships you need to work on and deepen? After all, when all is said and done, what the world sees as treasures are nothing compared to the treasures of God’s Kingdom – and I believe faithful friendships are one of those Kingdom treasures!
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV)
