There is an old gospel hymn that we sing in our Church sometimes that speaks of the friendship of Jesus: “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one, no, not one.”
I have been thinking about the importance of friends in our lives, and, especially the friendship of Jesus Christ. In Proverbs 18:24, we find the key to friendship in this life, “He that hath friends must shew himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Simply stated, “If you will have friends, you must be friendly.” It is hard to be friends with a grouch and grumbler, even though they need a good friend. As a matter of fact, Proverbs 22:24 cautions us to avoid becoming friends with some people: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:” then, verse 25 tells the reason, “Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” That means that if you hang around him very long, you may start behaving as he does, or others may brand you by who you associate with. It will turn your smile into a frown and your joy into bitterness. Again, we find in Proverbs 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Unless you are strong in your convictions, it is easy to be influenced by peer pressure.
Another hymn says “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.” Sinners need a friend that can reach them with the truth without being influenced or enticed to get involved in their sin. We can be friendly without being friends. If we are to reach the unbeliever with the gospel, we must demonstrate friendliness. Jesus said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” and he was accused of sitting with sinners, and eating with them, and did. Jesus was never tempted with the sins of those he came in contact with but always gave them the opportunity to trust him. Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners unto repentance.” He also said, “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” If we are to fulfill the great commission, we must go where sinners are, be friendly and kind, and preach the gospel unashamedly and with a concern for their soul. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”