A Few Words: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Do You Need a Friend?

They are probably best friends since they were kids.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

We need friends. Living on one's own can be depressing and desperate when trying to get through difficult times. When you're dealing with troubles on your own you have no sounding board or outside support. Scripture and prayer can certainly get you through such times if your mindset is in the right place, but having a good friend by your side provides a strength that you may not be able to muster by yourself.

Independence can be an admirable quality for us to have. We should not be overly and needily dependant on anyone else. That situation can be dangerous for us in many ways. However we need other people in order to get us by in this world. We need to have friends whom we can trust when trust is needed or just to keep us company when company is desired.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate friend. He loved us so much that He gave his life so that we could find salvation and eternal life. We rarely have to give up our own lives for our friends--at least not in the literal sense that Jesus did. But often being a friend does require sacrifice. Our time, material goods, money, or even our emotions might be necessary to give to a friend in need. Then there are the times when you may look to a friend to provide these things to you. True friendship is an exchange, a sharing experience, and a relationship with mutual benefits.

We can try going it alone and indeed many of us do. When you have friends by your side, traveling life's sometimes difficult road can be so much easier. Companionship makes a burden a lighter load to carry.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13

New International Version (NIV)

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Be a Friend, Call a Friend

Helping a friend (Photo credit: Daniel Veazey)

The heart is delighted by the fragrance of oil and sweet perfumes,
and in just the same way, the soul is sweetened by the wise counsel of a friend.

Proverbs 27:9

The Voice (VOICE)

This past week I received the sad news that an old friend of mine had taken his life. He had suffered for the past several years with Parkinson's disease. Apparently the effects of the disease had caused so much suffering and had gotten him so depressed that ending his own life seemed like the only solution for him.

Since my friend lived far from where I now live I did not keep up with him. I would usually call him when I would go back to visit my mother and we would have a breakfast together. That might have been perhaps once or, at the most, twice a year. I think I called him on the phone once a few years ago. But honestly, I did not stay in touch with him very well.

He had many friends nearby, but I don't know how often any of them stayed in touch either. It seems for some of us as we get older and have jobs and more family obligations, keeping up with our friends of youth is something we neglect. These are the days when friendships can be more important to us. As we grow older, if we don't have much family around and don't keep active in social settings, it can be easy to become alienated and alone.

Strangely, my friend had been on my mind a lot of late. I had missed getting together with him on my last visit home. I thought several times about calling him just to catch up with how he was doing in his life. Just one of those get to it later things. My intent was there, but my action was lacking.

I don't know if I would have made much difference in his decision to end his life. I'm not even sure if any of our mutual friends had been keeping up with him. I don't know anything about what was going on in the lives of my friend and his wife. Still, if I had called him to offer a few words of encouragement and support, maybe it could have made a difference.

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.