UNDERSTANDING ADVERSITY: PART THIRTEEN

 

UNDERSTANDING ADVERSITY PART THIRTEEN

 

Now we turn our attention to the thirteenth topic in our adversity study. Adversity Is God’s Way Of  Sifting Our Friendships

This can be a sore topic with many people because somehow many Christians are under the mistaken impression that consorting with those who do evil or are perpetual sinners is somehow going to change if they hang out with them. Like they are under the impression that their walk with the Lord will somehow rub off on the unsaved. Usually what ends up happening is the opposite. The evil drags the Christian down and eventually they backslide.

 There is another side to it though. Adversity will always test friendships. Adversity reveals which friends are concerned about getting and which friends are concerned about giving. A true friend loves at all times, especially during a time you are going through adversity or a trial if you will.

Jesus explained this kind of friendship in the parable of the good Samaritan. His commitment to his neighbor, who had fallen among thieves lasted until all the neighbor’s needs had been met.

 Look at Luke 10:30-37; for the full story.

 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luke 10: 30-37

In contrast to this account is the parable of the lost son or the prodigal son. As long as he was spending his inheritance, the son had many friends. But when the money ran out and hardships came along, he found out who his real friends were and they were not there any more. Look at Luke 15: 12-16;

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. Luke 15: 12-16.

 A true friendship is richly illustrated in the account of David and Jonathan. Their hearts were knit together in love, and then adversity came to David. Jonathan could have chosen a number of valid reasons to reject David at that point. But he did not. Instead, he stood right beside David right up to the end of his life. He warned and protected David; he encouraged and befriended him; he risked his life for him; Jonathan accepted David as one who would be king in his place. The depth of love between David and Jonathan was expressed in David’s anguish at Jonathan’s death. He said, “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me is wonderful, passing the love of women.” 2 Samuel 1:26 And lest you be confused, this is not a homosexual relationship he is talking about here. The love David had for Jonathan was deep. They shared their inmost thoughts with each other. Things that only men understand. Something like what goes on between women.

There are only so many things we can share with the opposite sex and unless you go through the things we share about, you cannot understand. The same sex can understand because they experience the same things. David and Jonathan had that kind of commitment and relationship with each other. I Corinthians 13: 4-8; says,

“Love suffereth long, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth.” I Corinthians 13: 4-8;

 Don’t forget, hit the subscribe button so you can keep informed about this series and also check out the amazon book page to get your copy of this study.

Shall we pray. If you do not Know Jesus as your Savior today, I invite you to say the sinner’s prayer with me now.

Lord Jesus, I come to you today in need of a Savior. I believe you came to this earth as a man and walked among us teaching and healing and saving souls. I acknowledge today that I am a sinner and that you died for me and rose on the third day, ascended to Heaven and are seated by the Father. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and come into my life and be my savior today. I believe I am now born again and one day I will be with you forever. Thank you in Jesus name. Amen

See you in Part 14. Have a blessed day.