Faithful and True
When a friend is lost during a tragedy, we often call them a “fair weather friend.” Such people enjoy relationships as long as they are fun and upbeat, but when sacrifices are required they move on to other friends. It is often a bitter loss because it is during our troubles we need friends the most and feel a deep sense of loss and even betrayal to find they didn’t really care. Job was deeply hurt when his three friends did this to him.
Loyalty in time of trouble is a great balm to an aching heart. When we have “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Pr. 18:24), we never forget it. Knowing that we have friends who will help us through any adversity brings comfort and confidence. Loyalty and devotion are the very best gifts any friend can give. Though everyone vows “for better or worse, in richer and in poorer, in sickness and in heath,” not everyone keeps them. What a blessing when “the heart of her husband trusts in her, ...she does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (Pr. 31:10-12).
Though we have no control over others, we can and should be loyal to our friends, family and brethren. “In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” and “look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4). Our desire to be loyal makes our yea, yea and our nay, nay. It also makes us “suffer long, be kind, not rude or selfish, and willingly bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things (Mt. 5:37; 1 Cor. 13:4-7).
There is no greater friend, loyal and devoted to our needs than God. “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5). This is what makes it so easy to develop a devoted relationship with Jesus. Even “if we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). God was so confident in his faithfulness he “confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation” (Heb. 6:17-18). (1) God made a promise, (2) confirmed it with an oath, and it is impossible for him to lie! We will never find a more devoted and committed friend!
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.... when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” No one has ever given so much to those so unworthy. Jesus did the same: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).
So how are we responding to this love and devotion? Are we “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” to God? Do we “draw near to God” so “He will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8)? God called “Abraham My friend” (Isa. 41:8) because Abraham was less concerned about what God gave him and more interested in what he could give to God. No matter what God asked and no matter what it cost, Abraham did it without question. This is as it should be in all devoted friendships.
The true test of loyalty comes through sacrifice. It may be a wife with a terminal illness, a child with a birth defect, or a devastated friend, but the greater the cost to help, the higher the commitment. We were dead in our sin and enemies of God when Jesus proved his devotion by suffering on the cross. How could we ever rise to that? So if the time comes when our love for God is tested, we should be prepared to suffer for him. “Those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Pet. 4:19).
It all comes down to this. When we see God as our faithful Creator who has stood by us in all our troubles, it is not difficult for us to endure suffering for him. This is what Paul did! He was convicted as a criminal of a capital crime because he had entrusted his soul to the Lord. It was “for this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12). Paul knew God was the best friend he ever had. God had proven his love and devotion over and over again. When it was Paul’s turn to show his, he was grateful to do so. When it is our turn, so will we.
Loyalty in time of trouble is a great balm to an aching heart. When we have “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Pr. 18:24), we never forget it. Knowing that we have friends who will help us through any adversity brings comfort and confidence. Loyalty and devotion are the very best gifts any friend can give. Though everyone vows “for better or worse, in richer and in poorer, in sickness and in heath,” not everyone keeps them. What a blessing when “the heart of her husband trusts in her, ...she does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (Pr. 31:10-12).
Though we have no control over others, we can and should be loyal to our friends, family and brethren. “In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” and “look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4). Our desire to be loyal makes our yea, yea and our nay, nay. It also makes us “suffer long, be kind, not rude or selfish, and willingly bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things (Mt. 5:37; 1 Cor. 13:4-7).
There is no greater friend, loyal and devoted to our needs than God. “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5). This is what makes it so easy to develop a devoted relationship with Jesus. Even “if we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). God was so confident in his faithfulness he “confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation” (Heb. 6:17-18). (1) God made a promise, (2) confirmed it with an oath, and it is impossible for him to lie! We will never find a more devoted and committed friend!
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.... when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” No one has ever given so much to those so unworthy. Jesus did the same: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).
So how are we responding to this love and devotion? Are we “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” to God? Do we “draw near to God” so “He will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8)? God called “Abraham My friend” (Isa. 41:8) because Abraham was less concerned about what God gave him and more interested in what he could give to God. No matter what God asked and no matter what it cost, Abraham did it without question. This is as it should be in all devoted friendships.
The true test of loyalty comes through sacrifice. It may be a wife with a terminal illness, a child with a birth defect, or a devastated friend, but the greater the cost to help, the higher the commitment. We were dead in our sin and enemies of God when Jesus proved his devotion by suffering on the cross. How could we ever rise to that? So if the time comes when our love for God is tested, we should be prepared to suffer for him. “Those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Pet. 4:19).
It all comes down to this. When we see God as our faithful Creator who has stood by us in all our troubles, it is not difficult for us to endure suffering for him. This is what Paul did! He was convicted as a criminal of a capital crime because he had entrusted his soul to the Lord. It was “for this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12). Paul knew God was the best friend he ever had. God had proven his love and devotion over and over again. When it was Paul’s turn to show his, he was grateful to do so. When it is our turn, so will we.