Not everyone is your friend, nor should they be. If we will learn this lesson we will avoid much pain in this life. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great to have friends. We all need friends. But we also need a lot more.
The folks you follow or who follow you on Facebook or Twitter are not your friends. Many of them don’t even know you. Many do and don’t like you and many certainly don’t have your best interests at heart. I know you might share intimate details of your life with these people. That doesn’t make them your friends. It makes you stupid.
Your kids are not your friends. They don’t need a friend. They need a parent. Parent/child is a unique, special relationship. It isn’t equal. One party has more responsibility than the other. It’s a relationship which should change over the years, but it’s always much more than friendship.
Your spouse is not your friend. I know we seem to think that it’s the highest compliment to say that our spouse is our “best friend.” My spouse is so much more than that. The committed relationship between a man and a woman is uniquely created by God. We demean it when we equate it to friendship, even the highest level of friendship. The man owes certain unique responsibilities to the woman and the reverse is true. Over the years we have been too concerned that this special relationship be equal. It’s not. Men can do things women can’t. Women can do things men can’t. More importantly, A man who loves one woman WILL do things for her no one else can and the reverse is true. This is something our society has forgotten and the Supreme Court is only a reflection of society. Two men and two women may certainly have a very special relationship. They may be “best friends” but they will never be man and wife. A married couple that thinks their goal is to be “best friends” is missing out on so much.
Jesus should be more than your friend. I know the song “What a Friend we have in Jesus.” has been ringing in my head for two days. I know Jesus said this: 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.Q)’> 14 You are my friendsS)’> 15 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. John 15
He was telling His disciples that now a closer relationship with God was possible. He was moving His disciples from servants to friends. He used the word “friend” but He said we are His friends if we do what He commands. That’s not friendship as we understand it. That’s Lordship. Our proper relationship with Jesus is that He is our Lord. No friend can tell us what to do, but no friend can change us. No friend can dwell within us. No friend created the world. No friend will ever judge the world.
Jesus should be much more than our friend. He should be our Lord, and until He is we will never be all that we can be. Not everyone is your friend. Be careful to define your relationships. Understand and live up to your responsibilities and enjoy the benefits of your relationships. Your real friends really need a friend. Your spouse needs a spouse. Your children need a parent. You need a Lord. Look at your life. You really need a Lord. Trust me.
Be blessed.
Nick
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