WILL YOU - Be My Friend?

I am currently preparing and ministering a series at Victory Fort in Manila Philippines, entitled "Will You".  Over the next few weeks, I will be posting my message notes as a reminder of what I shared on during Sunday's messages. 

Sunday 3 February 2013 - "Will You Be My Friend?" 

What is friendship? 
Friendship is an attachment to a person that is reciprocal in every way.  Do you TRULY bring the best out of your friend?  Do they TRULY bring the best out of you? 

Friendship Funnel 
Everyday, we encounter people in various categories through the "Friendship Funnel".

acquaintances e.g. facebook, 1000's of acquaintances 

friends

close friends

intimate friends

The further you go down the 'friendship funnel', you make an investment of time, effort and money into these relationships or friendships.  Your friends will also become fewer... e.g. you cannot become intimate friends with 1000 acquaintances (the cost and price is quite high... time pressures etc.) 

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12  

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun 

There is one alone, without companion:  

He has neither son nor brother 

Yet there is no end to all his labors, 

Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. 

But he never asks,“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” 

This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. 

Two are better than one, 

Because they have a good reward for their labor. 

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. 

But woe to him who is alone when he falls, 

For he has no one to help him up.  

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; 

But how can one be warm alone? 

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. 

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Let us learn from Solomon's wisdom from this passage of scripture.  

BENEFITS OF FRIENDSHIP

1.  Productivity

Two is better than one.  Remember there is nothing wrong with being single or being 'one'. But here Solomon is saying "two is better than one".  It is okay to have dinner on your own.... it is fine to go to a movie on your own... you can enjoy a stroll on the park on your own BUT, if you choose to do it with someone ..."it is better."  An experiment was done in the USA. One horse could pull 4000lbs but 2 horses could pull 24000lbs.  Wow ... that's productivity.  Two is better than one.

2. Protection 

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls.

What do you do when you encounter challenges and problems in life?  Most of the time it is so difficult to cope on your own and try and navigate through the challenges and obstacles in life. What are friends for?  They are there to lift you up.  To carry you.  To support you. To pray for you. To cover you. Who is lifting you up when you fall?  

3. Passion

 

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;

But how can one be warm alone?

How do you keep and maintain passion in life?  How do you keep your passion for God, His word and for His presence.  We need friends to encourage us and spur us on in every aspect of life especially in our relationship with Jesus.  

Do you want to be a piece of 'coal' outside the fire and grow cold, or be in the fire where all your friends are 'burning' for Him?

4. Power/Strength

 

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

This is what really counts. The third cord is Jesus Christ. In ALL your relationships, have Jesus at the centre of it. This will truly provide power and strength to your relationships. Jesus does make a difference.

Be purposeful and intentional with ALL your relationships. Solomon has given us powerful insights. Lets learn and apply these powerful principles to our lives.

⁸ 

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