It is amazing to me to think about the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and lived here on earth. What is more amazing is that while he lived here he didn't accumulate anything of value - no home of his own, no real possessions to speak of, and no retirement plan. What he did have, what he did invest in, was his friendship with 12 ordinary men.
The wisdom of Christ is so far beyond ours and we have to know that his choice to invest in people was a deliberate one based on an infinite understanding the things that really matter. Maybe that is why when someone asked Jesus what the most important commandment in all of scripture is, he said "love the Lord your God with all your heart," but then he added, "and love your neighbor as yourself." Both of these important laws deal with relationships - one with God, and one with the people around us. He went on to say that every law ever written could be summed up in those two laws.
Why are these two laws so important? Why did Jesus spend so much time investing in people? Because relationships matter. For those who are born again and will spend eternity in heaven - relationships are eternal. We may not know all that awaits us in heaven, but scripture is clear that we will know each other, that we will spend eternity in fellowship with each other as we worship God and serve him together.
To quote from the description of this blog ... "of everything you will possess in your life, no matter how much stuff you have, the only thing that thing that will go with you into eternity is the relationships you have with people while you are alive in this life." That tells me that I should invest more in relationships, and that I should value them and not let anything get between me and the friends I am so blessed to have.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friendship Lost
I want you to take a minute and think about the people in your life who are or have been your closest friends over the years. You can close your eyes if it helps so you can picture their faces (but then open them and keep reading).
As you think about those people and picture them in your mind no doubt you will have some good feelings and a smile may even begin to spread across your face as you think about the great times you have had, and the reasons why they became such close friends.
However, even as you find joy in those memories, no doubt there will also be a some moments of sadness as you think about the friends you have lost - those who have passed away or moved away. And there are the friends you have lost who are still very much alive, and maybe even still living near you, but they are just no longer your friend.
The smile that spreads across your face as you think of your friends can stop spreading as you remember the pain of a friendship that has been lost. That pain is the reason for this blog. Loosing a friend to death or distance is painful for sure, but loosing a friendship to conflict, rumor, or misunderstanding can be incredibly painful too.
In the blogs that follow I will be writing about why it hurts so much to loose a friendship, the eternal connection between people, the things we do that kill friendships, and the Biblical truths that reveal how to have great and lasting friendships.
If you think this will be a helpful blog, please give me some feedback and I'll keep on blogging.
As you think about those people and picture them in your mind no doubt you will have some good feelings and a smile may even begin to spread across your face as you think about the great times you have had, and the reasons why they became such close friends.
However, even as you find joy in those memories, no doubt there will also be a some moments of sadness as you think about the friends you have lost - those who have passed away or moved away. And there are the friends you have lost who are still very much alive, and maybe even still living near you, but they are just no longer your friend.
The smile that spreads across your face as you think of your friends can stop spreading as you remember the pain of a friendship that has been lost. That pain is the reason for this blog. Loosing a friend to death or distance is painful for sure, but loosing a friendship to conflict, rumor, or misunderstanding can be incredibly painful too.
In the blogs that follow I will be writing about why it hurts so much to loose a friendship, the eternal connection between people, the things we do that kill friendships, and the Biblical truths that reveal how to have great and lasting friendships.
If you think this will be a helpful blog, please give me some feedback and I'll keep on blogging.
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