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Scriptures:
God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding
as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than
the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of
Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than
Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the
surrounding nations. (1 Kings 4:29-31)
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:36-40)
A Friend
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39)
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but
love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)
A Friend Loves
“loves” is translated from “aheb,” which means “to have affection for.”
“agapao,” which included the idea of “a deliberate assent of the will as a
matter of principle, duty, and propriety.”
“phileo,” meaning “affection, personal attachment, a matter of sentiment, or
feeling.” “thelo,” which means to choose, or to “delight in.”
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
A Friend Loves at All Times
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect
the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. (Proverbs 27:5)
And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the
Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. (2 Corinthians 8:5)
How You Can Be a Friend That Loves at All Times?
1. Adjust your attitude.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
2. Make a list.
3. Consider the "time" in your friends' lives.
Times of Crisis
Times of Daily Fatigue
Times of Joy
Conclusion:
The qualities of a true friend or a beloved brothers are best exemplified in
the life of the Lord Jesus. A true friend loves at all times.. in good
circumstances and during times of greatest difficulty and hardships. And Jesus
reminded us that the greatest of all love is expressed when a friend is
prepared to give up his own life for that of his friend - or to forego his own
desires and needs for the sake of his dearly beloved friend.
Loyalty in friendship is a grace that becomes all the more precious when
despite intensifying hardships, a friend is there to comfort and help. And the
scriptures remind us to never abandon a friend - nor even to forsake them. All
true friendships are of great value but it is a double blessing when
friendship traverse the generations.
Wise counsel and spiritual encouragement is the calling-card of the friend
that loves at all times and loyalty, sensitivity and a genuine interest in the
other are the qualities of the brother that travels through adversity with us.
May we take on these qualities in our dealings with our friends and praise God
when we discover them to be the qualities that characterize our own friend and
brothers-in- Christ.
And don’t forget that Jesus of Nazareth, reigning as King on David’s throne,
is the greatest Friend. He gave His life for you, for me, for us; He lives to
make intercession for you; He will never leave or forsake you.
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s
business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose
you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will
last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is
my command: Love each other." (John 15:15-17)
Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta
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