You’ve Got a Friend

You’ve Got a Friend

By Pastor John Dawson

            In 1971, Carole King wrote the song You’ve Got a Friend. Later that year James Taylor released it and it became a number one hit. It is a comforting song about having a friend even when everyone else seems to attack or abandon. It shows the great intentions that a friend would have to come running to help whenever their name was called. And yet sometimes the best intentions fall short. We long to have a friend when we need one. We desire to be a friend when needed.

            The adage says that to have a friend, you need to show yourself friendly. In other words, before you can have a friend, you should be a friend. And yet, that is difficult. We are often insecure. We are concerned with ourselves, our needs, and our safety. Only when we feel secure are we bold enough to be the friend who genuinely thinks of others. We need a friend who is so faithful and secure that we can go forth into an uncertain world with the power to befriend. This we have in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

            Last month in Sunday School, we looked at the blessing that we have because God has shown friendship to us. We see the example of how God the Father was a friend to Adam as they met in the garden in the cool of the day, how Abraham was known as the friend of God, how the Lord led Moses and remained with him through all his trials leading the people out of Egypt, and how God restored David when he sinned. In all these God was a faithful friend even when these were not. From this we can know how God is a faithful friend to us in all our trials.

            The Proverbs speak of a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Through faith, we know Jesus Christ to be a friend like this. We have hymns that celebrate this like Jesus what a Friend of Sinners and What a Friend we have in Jesus. Jesus knew what it meant to be abandoned, but he did not abandon his friends. Supported by his loving presence, we should feel secure to face all the things that might otherwise make us afraid.

The Holy Spirit is also a constant friend to us. He leads and guides. Through the Word of God, the Spirit will encourage and comfort us. He also will challenge and rebuke us. A true friend tells us the truth. The Holy Spirit is such a friend. The more we lean on the support given to us by God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the more we will be strong to be a friend to others, even when they are not ready to be the friend to us. It is this strong support of our divine friend that empowers us to bless others with friendship that leads to salvation.

Look deeply at the friendship that God has given. God is not your peer. He is far above you. And yet he treats you with love and compassion. Even when you are not as loving as you should be to God, God is still faithful. Rooted in that support, you can befriend the unfriendly. Your goal is not just to win them to yourself. Your goal is to show them something of what the love and friendship of God is like. There is no stronger tool of sharing the gospel of Jesus than loving people with the love that Jesus has given. Safe in the love of God’s friendship, you can be bold to love others.

I need to learn how to be a better friend. I need to learn how to be more friendly in this divine way. I really appreciated John Perkins’ book: He calls me friend. John was a man who was treated horribly by some, and yet he did not let that abuse define or control his would. Instead, he was so anchored in the friendship of God that he looked for the best in everyone he met. It was said that he would go into an elevator with strangers and come out with friends. I want to be so steeped in the love of Jesus that this would be the way I deal with all people. Let’s grow in this way together.

In Sunday school this month, we will set aside time to share with one another about our friendship with Christ. It is a joy to hear one another’s testimonies. I hope we can also share about our experiences in sharing that love of Christ as we reach out in friendship with other people. I also want to increase our bonds of friendship together with one another. Nowhere does this happen deeper than when we regularly meet in groups to pray for one another. I am excited about what the Lord is doing among us.

Pastor John