Friendship – What is a True Friend? 

                    By Caroline Lanette Alderson

 

 

 

  John 15:13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.

    John 15:14 You are My friends IF you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.

    John 15:15 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]

 

 

I’ve heard that a friend doesn’t owe a friend, but what does the Word of God have to say about that?  In the first verse, John 15:13, it tells me that a real friend will lay down his or her life for his or her friend.  I would say that means we do owe each other.  We are our brothers or our friends keeper. 

 

In the second verse I have, John 15:14, it states that Jesus does not consider us His true friend unless we are obeying His orders.  I wonder how many people think they are His true friend who are out doing their own thing and ignoring Jesus and His plans for their life, but who think they are the friend of God, because bless God. I said a sinners prayer, and now I have my ticket to Heaven. Why should I obey the Word of God, or study?  I just want to get into Heaven.  I wonder how many of those kinds of people will get in?  I wonder how many people who think they are Christians because of one prayer, who will be greatly surprised when the rapture comes and they are left behind. 

 

James 4:4 …… Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

 

It reminds me of the ten virgins, or the ten Christians.  Five of them were ready, obeying the Word of God, and keeping their oil level up.  Five of them were lazy and out doing their own thing, and guess what?  Jesus came and they were left behind.  What happened?  They were virgins or Christians too.  They had let their oil go completely dry, and were too lazy to do anything about it.  They tried to get in on the other virgins oil but they were told to go buy or get their own.  OOPS!  It’s a little late to say ooops when all of eternity is staring you in the eye and there is nowhere to go.  That’s a scary thought.  It’s not going to happen to me; because I keep myself in the love and in the Word of God, and I won’t be caught in sin, and my oil having gone out.   Jesus could take us at any time.  The world is getting wicked and darker by the day.  We should be walking in the light, and leave the world of sin behind, while we can and have that choice. 

 

Gen 18:17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do?

 

In John 15:15 it says that whom God calls friend, He tells us everything.  He doesn’t hide anything from us.  He’s not out doing His own thing and ignoring me His friend, and not telling me what He is doing.  God is loyal to me, and is never neglectful, nor does He hide from me what He is doing.  I have never sneaked up on God and He was being naughty.  I know that sounds funny, but we as friends shouldn’t be caught doing anything behind our friends back either.  I guess this could apply to husbands and wives as well, but since I have no experience in that area, I won’t touch it.  If the Lord speaks to someone and applies it in that area, then that’s God’s doing. 

 

Ex 33:11 And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend….

 

Prov 18:24 The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.