Ecc_4:9-10
“Two are better than one…, for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.”
What of Today’s Verse…
WE CANNOT have many inner friends, but sad is the life that has not its other self. The friendship of David and Jonathan, of Damon and Pythias, has passed into the current talk of the world. It is especially good for the Christian disciple to travel to heaven with a comrade, Hopeful with Christian, and Mercy with Christiana.
A friend is invaluable if we stumble or fall on the path of life.
“Woe to him that is alone when he falls.” “Brethren,” says the Apostle, “if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.'” Let us watch for each other’s souls; if any is falling away from the truth, or into some insidious trap, let us lift him up. Let us exercise the brotherly solicitude that Barnabas did for Paul.
Friendship ought to make our spirits glow. “How can one be warm alone?” Of course, in a spiritual sense there are divine sources of caloric. The love of Christ kindles to vehement heat. But it is certainly easier to keep up the temperature when we have a kindred heart beside us. Perhaps this was one reason why our Lord sent forth His disciples by two and two (Mar_6:7).
Without companionship, material things cannot satisfy. The ties of nature, friendship, and religious communion give a zest to a poor man’s fife, which the miser with all his wealth forfeits. It is all-important, not only in ordinary life, but also pre-eminently in the pilgrimage of the spirit, to have fellowship with some kindred soul.
In temptation, a true friend makes us more able to withstand the devil. It is a real help in the hour of trial to have a friend who will appropriate the words of our Lord, saying “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” There is no fellowship like that of Jesus, our Faithful Friend, who lifts us when we fall, chafes us when chilled with cold, and succours us against the Tempter. Does He not make the third in the threefold cord–“Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mat_18:20).
Let us Pray:
We pray for our companions in life’s pilgrimage. Help us to hearten them with our courage, cheer them with our love, and bear their burdens as far as we may. For ourselves may we find in Jesus the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother does. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Intimate With Jesus
These words are not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus is leading Philip on. The last One with whom we get intimate is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One Who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come – “I have called you friends.” Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His word, but do we know Him?
Jesus said, “It is expedient for you that I go away” – in that relationship, so that He might lead them on. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to step more intimately with Him. Fruit bearing is always mentioned as the manifestation of an intimate union with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-4).
When once we get intimate with Jesus, we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, and we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because Jesus has satisfied the last abyss of his nature. The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that Our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
“Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?” John 14:9
