Too many “friends” is a bad thing. Proverbs 18:24 says, A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. True friendships take a lot of time, effort, and caring. How much time do you spend with your friends? Let’s say that you have 31 friends, and that you could only spend one day with each one of them a month. Not only would that take up a lot of time, provided that’s all you had to do in life, but you couldn’t possibly become close with all of them. Without missing a single visit, you’d have only met with each person twelve times in the year.
Since life is busy, and developing true friendships does take quality time, you are constrained to have only a few close friends in your life. The rest, those outside of your inner circle, are more like associates. Yes, they may be people you call “friends,” but they’re not truly close friends. Even among the closest friends, less than a handful will be considered “closer than a brother or a sister.”
As friendships deepens so does the importance and the amount of the information that you’ll confide in them. You trust that they will not reveal any confidential information to others. However, if you mistakenly believe that all your companions are close friends, then you’ll come to ruin, because the information about yourself, that you shared with them in confidence, will most assuredly be leaked out or “weaponized.” People you have not time-tested, or pressure situation tested, will not have your best interests in mind. Therefore, too many “friends” is a bad thing because it’s not possible to realistically foster so many relationships.
Is God your friend? More importantly, are you God’s friend? The following Scripture, Matthew 7:21-23, gives us a glimpse into the future, on Judgement Day, of some of God’s supposed friends, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
These “associates” tried to pass themselves off as true friends, yet God declared to them, “I never knew you.” After all, doesn’t a true friend know how much time you have spent with Him. A true friend knows that you’ve been with Him through the good times and the bad. A true friend knows you’d be willing to lay down your life for Him. The bottom line is – you can’t fool your own Creator. He knows every thought that has ever passed through your mind and all your thoughts yet to come, You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. Psalm 139:2
So, the big question you must ask yourself is, “How much time does God, your friend, want you to spend with Him in the friendship? That’s easy. It’s answered in the Shema,“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4 The key word repeated three times (an indication of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) is “all.” Then in the New Testament God emphasizes the boundaries and conditions of your friendship with Him in John 15:14. Jesus tells all us believers, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” The word “if” indicates that the friendship is conditional. Nowhere in the Bible does God mention “unconditional love.” This term, which means “love without any limitations or conditions,” is merely wishful thinking by men to skirt responsibility.
It’s never too late. Give God “all,” and follow His “commands,” and when Judgement Day finally comes upon you, you will hear your Friend say to you, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23. If you haven’t received the Lord yet and want to to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, pray this prayer: Lord Jesus I know that I am sinner and I ask you forgive me of my sins. I believe that you were crucified for my sins and through your blood I have redemption and salvation. Please come into my heart and I receive you as my God. I pray in Jesus name. AMEN
Study provided by Jim Wagner
www.GodsArmySurvivalTraining.Com
