John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
“Relationships in life are not the icing on the cake. They are the cake!” I believe our Lord agrees with this statement. Jesus told His friends that He would lay down His life for them. Jesus is “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” In Christ, believers can experience a strong friendship with Christ and fellow believers.
Strong Friendships Include Three Things:
1.) The Strength of Worship
The spiritual bond is the most vital connection in any relationship. Mission trips illustrate this point perfectly. On a mission trip, you leave your native land to work and worship with people of other looks, languages, and cultures. You, the foreigner, do not look the same, talk the same, or even eat the same foods as the national, but you experience a powerful bond in Christ that transcends your many differences. Spiritual unity surpasses all other differences.
Strong friendships are forged in the bond of worshipping God “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The first-century church demonstrated this unity for us. Those friends were “one accord” in worship.
Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”
Acts 4:24 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:”
Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”
2.) The Strength of Work
A schoolteacher had students bring an object that represented their faith. A Jewish boy brought the Star of David, a Catholic girl brought a rosary, and the Baptist boy brought fried chicken! Fellowships and activities are tremendous, but they never develop lasting friendships. Lasting friendships are forged by working together for Christ.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever, I command you.
“Ye do” implies work. Jesus’ friends “do.” Jesus told us in Matthew 11:29 that we are to “take His yoke upon us.” The closest bond for friends is to be in the yoke with Jesus doing Christ’s work here on earth together.
Many “friendships” are not built on a cause or an overarching purpose. It is just people having fun, enjoying a hobby, or just hanging out together. In this kind of relationship, there is no common goal or end. However, when two Christians are in the yoke with Jesus, they bear the same burdens, responsibilities and celebrate the same victories with each other and Christ. True strong, eternal friendships are developed in Christ’s yoke.
Someone once said, “Friends double our joys and divide our sorrows.” How incredibly true this is in the Lord’s work!
3.) The Strength of Warfare
One Sunday morning, one of our church members, a Navy WWII veteran, met a fellow soldier who served on a sister ship in the South Pacific during the war. I watched these ninety-year-old men reminisce. Their eyes lit up, and tears welled up as they talked about their service to our country. The men, both now in heaven, exchanged phone numbers that day and remained in contact. What caused their strong connection? War.
Christians who engage in spiritual warfare together are no different. They have a common enemy, an important cause, and a Great High Commander. As fellow soldiers of the truth, we depend on our friend’s faithful service, prayers, and encouragement. The strong bond of war strengthens friendships. True friends are in a great spiritual fight together for the King!
2 Timothy 2:4 …that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Philippians 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.