Friendship
Song of the Week: My Soul Will Wait, by Sovereign Grace Music (2022)
Book of the Week: God Has A Name, by John Mark Comer (2024)
What a week. I had the privilege of being on a panel for our men’s ministry yesterday - it was on friendship and I have some thoughts.
First of all, I was way out of my league being up there. A panel of very exceptional men, I was outclassed, but happy to be there.
Second takeaway was the intentionality that friendship takes. I liken it to dating. I’m reminded of a quote from an old show about war (it was either MASH or Hogan’s Heroes, I can’t remember) where one of the characters complained about not receiving any mail from home, another chimed in and said “you gotta write em to get em!” It’s a simple fact, but still I think many miss it - friendship requires you to put yourself out there. That means talking to a stranger, finding something in common, asking if they’d like to spend time together. It’s an adventure!
Third, some scripture came to mind as I began to prepare, many in the Proverbs. Prov 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Prov 18:24 - A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Prov 27:9 - Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Lastly, Ecc 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.
Fourth, God has been so gracious to me. The panel opened up simply by asking what have been the benefits of having close friendships in our lives - as part of my answer, I gave a peek into a season of my life where I lacked close relationships. When I moved to Tennessee, I realized that I had left most of my life behind in California, most impactfully, my community. The depression was palpable and for a while I felt almost unable to build new relationships. I look back, now five years later, and not only have I been able to rekindle and/or maintain some sweet friendships in California, but I have an incredible support system around me here in Knoxville. Even over the last few weeks, I’ve had conversations with people where I’ve pointed out that God has placed “a long list of people in my life now who will not let me fall”. Those who know me from when I moved here know that I cannot take credit for that, it was truly a work of the Lord.
I have more takeaways coming next week as I continue to reflect on a rich night.
In love,
Josh
