Friendship Is Rewarding
Historically the best teachers have taught best by example. Socrates never wrote anything. He was a peripatetic teacher. That is, he taught while walking. One young man who walked with him was Plato. Plato was the teacher of Aristotle. Aristotle influenced young Alexander whose exploits resulted in his being called “the Great.” Those best at exhortation have by their example leaped across generations to influence lives.
Augustine held high the torch of faith amid the ruins of a collapsing civilization. The flicker of that torch was seen years later by Martin Luther. Luther dared the authorities of both church and state with his faithful, “Here I stand.”
Balthasar Hubmaier refused to compromise his convictions and carried the banner of truth as an example to those of his day. By his example a little band of Anabaptists pushed the Reformation beyond the Reformers.
These were show-and-tell Christians. Now it is our turn.
“A man starts to grow old,” wrote Sir William Osler, “when he stops making new friends.” How rapidly are you aging?
A common thread runs through friendships of all types: openness. People like friends who are human. They are comfortable around persons who feel and share. To be such a person heed this advice of Ben Franklin said, “Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody.”
“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.” (Proverbs 16:28)
Our speech is one direct method of communication, but by no means the only one. Authorities in the field conclude the following. Seven percent is communicated by the particular words we utter. Twenty-eight per cent is transmitted by how we say those words (tone and inflection of voice). Fifty-five per cent is conveyed by non-verbal cues (facial expressions, gestures, etc.).
For a better understanding of why tone and inflection are more than five times as influential as the actual word chosen, try this. Try saying, “I love you.” Say it first with warm sincerity. Repeat it as though it is a question. Now say it with force and anger.
Words referring to speech appear over 150 times in the Book of Proverbs. The book is worth reading one time just to observe references to the tongue, lips, mouth, and words.
Improper speech does not simply involve four-letter words. It includes deceit, slander, boasting, and inordinate argument. The “Talmud” contains this comment: “The slanderous tongue kills three: the slanderer, the slandered, and him who listens to the slander.”
A key to friendships is found in Proverbs 18: 22: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…”
The greatest friendship of all was shown at Calvary. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Love Rekindled
On the eve of the arrest of Christ a young man follows the procession leading Christ from Gethsemane. It is Mark’s story, let’s let him tell it.
“Then they all forsook Him and fled. Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.” (Mark 14:50 – 52)
Mark was one of the last to abandon Christ on the night of His betrayal. Nevertheless, his fleeing left him with something to overcome.
Most people have had moments they would like to forget. These moments of failure color our lives, but we choose the colors.
Mark was the son of Mary, a well-to-do Jerusalem widow. Her home was a favorite meeting place for followers of Christ. Mary, the mother of Mark, had a wealthy friend from Cyprus named Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement.” Mary saw to it that he became a positive influence in young Mark’s life.
Mark started out with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. They were venturing out to carry the good news of Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the world. They were to be the first heralds of the good news on the continent of Europe.
Mark made what Paul thought for the longest was an unforgivable mistake. Mark went back home to Jerusalem. He quit the team. This traumatic triangulation resulted in a painful estrangement.
It is not as though followers don’t ever waver. It isn’t that they are immune to fear. Believers often have to stare down fear.
Just as Paul contracted a painful illness Mark walked out on him. His unfaithfulness to his mission caused pain for Paul and Barnabas. It caused a rift between the three and alienation between Paul and Mark. It broke their fellowship. That break, however, gives a good illustration of how Christians reconcile.
The breach of relationships was deep and long lasting. The next time there was a missionary journey Paul and Barnabas planned to go together. Barnabas insisted on Mark going. Paul was adamant that his failure on their first trip disqualified him. Paul went on alone and Barnabas took Mark and they set out on a different mission. Mark was about to begin an admirable spiritual recovery.
While in prison in Rome Paul wrote a letter of encouragement to the church in Colossi.
Therein is this greeting: “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).” (Colossians 4:10).
Right there at the prison with Paul was Mark. The breach restored, the fellowship renewed, the bond of love apparent.
The initial influences of Barnabas on young Mark paid off.
Worry Is an Irritant
Worry is as insidious as an acid. If applied consistently, it erodes the vitality of nerve cells. Such acute cases evidence themselves by a person becoming shaky.
The mind is like an incredibly proficient machine. If properly cared for, it can produce amazing feats. Worry hinders its miracle work.
Testimony as to the effect of worry has been given by Dr. W. C. Alvarez, a stomach specialist at the Mayo Clinic. He concluded that 80 percent of the stomach disorders he treats are not organic, but functional. Wrong mental attitudes and improper spiritual outlooks cause functional disturbances in the digestive system. He concludes that faith is more important than food in curing most stomach ulcers.
A smorgasbord of worry controlling truth is the Bible. Program your mind with Bible refreshing reassurances.
A compendium of concepts worth cultivating and others which merit culling is found in Psalm 37. The following extracts from that treasure trove of truth are a good starting point for readjusting your mental attitude.
“Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.”
Having read this passage, now go back and study it. Evaluate it. Do you believe it? If so, in applying it you will find victory over worry. A careful analysis of the passage will reveal that most of the things worried about are included as items to be excluded from your thought patterns.
Such passages as the above can afford an oasis in the desert of worry. Like a person dying of thirst in a dry, barren wasteland, drink deeply of it.
During World War II, President Harry Truman was asked, “How can you bear up so calmly under the strain and stress of the presidency?”
With typical Truman candor, he replied, “I have a foxhole in my mind. Just as a soldier retreats into his foxhole for protection and respite, I periodically retire into my mental foxhole where I allow nothing to bother me.”
Each of us must have the equivalent of our own “foxhole” to survive the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. God’s Word is such a place. Go there often with the Lord as your guide.
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119: 11) Memorize Scripture in order to have it readily handy.
When Life Caves In
It may appear that life’s circumstances have conspired against you. All roads may be dead ends and all alleys blind. That says nothing about you, only about conditions. Amid adversity it is affirming to reflect on the fact, “You are the object of God’s kindness.”
Christianity is an exciting adventure. It is not a matter of ups and downs, but of ins and outs. Christ in you is the hope of glory. Faithfulness and joy amid adversity result from incarnation, not just Christ, God incarnate in the historical Jesus, but Christ incarnate in you. There is a delightfully different thought. Biblically, Christ is spoken of as being in believers. Thus, he is represented as being incarnate (Gal. 2:20). This adds to your uniqueness. It evidences your favorable status. Therein is expressed his kindness to you.
A balloon’s ascent is not dependent upon its color, size, or shape. What’s in it counts! If helium fills it, the result is different than if mere breath fills it. Helium is lighter than air. Resultantly, it will rise into the air. A helium-filled balloon takes on the characteristic of that which fills it. You, a believer, take on the quality of Christ when he is allowed to fill you. That is, when he controls you, life takes on his characteristics. You become identified with his traits. When he is in a person, that life becomes buoyant and rises above the winds of adversity.
As with the balloon, so with you, your color, size, and shape do not matter. Your looks, wealth, degrees, or pedigree matter not. Regardless, you are the object of God’s kindness. Rejoice! Fear not.
Don’t be like a window shopper who appreciates but never appropriates what is beheld. God’s Word was never meant for your scrutiny or mere study, but for your support. Accept the fact: You are an object of God’s kindness.
Your life may seem like a bad dream, but you are an object of God’s kindness. Life may be such a rat race that you are taking cheese flavored tranquilizers. But you are an object of God’s kindness.
Your hectic involvement may have you as bewildered as the person who was asked, “What do you think of civilization?” Perplexed, came the answer, “It’s great, why doesn’t somebody start it.” That may be your neighborhood. But you are the object of God’s kindness.
You may feel pursued by monsters whose heads and hands have outgrown their hearts. In this modern, mad-house you are an object of God’s kindness. Fear not!
The next time you get tied in fear knots, stop and reflect on God’s kindness. Forget it and remain bound. By applying basic Bible insights, life can gain stability.
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6: 26
Plodders
The word “walk” in Scripture often refers to one’s lifestyle. How is your walk? Perhaps you may consider the unpleasant and seemingly unproductive parts in a different light upon reading this.
Would you consider being called a plodder a compliment? Measure yourself by this definition before answering that. Various dictionaries describe a plodder differently, such as, “to walk slowly, to trudge,” and “to work patiently with effort.” A homespun definition might be simply, “to get there.” Now answer the question.
The British missionary William Carey, an extra-biblical plodder, had as his motto: “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”
He did and he did.
From his humble role as a shoe maker he emerged as a scholar, linguist, and effective missionary. In his twilight years he wrote, “If after my removal, anyone should think it worthwhile to write of my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. Anything beyond this will be too much.” He concluded, “I can plod… To this I owe everything.” He got it, he got there.
Against that example of consistency, judge yourself. To those who might be contemplating giving up – don’t. Find the joy in plodding and plod on.
“Plodder” is a euphemism for one who perseveres. It is often in the absence of great skill, emboldens them and enables them to achieve. They are driven by an inflamed desire to break down barriers, overcome obstacles, and do the impossibility. They see the end of their vision and count the cost and discouragement to press on, and in spite of all obstacles press on.
Now consider your role. You might feel you don’t count, that your role in life is small and your task meaningless. Let’s face it, we are not to judge people as big or little, but faithful or unfaithful. I have never met a person I did not consider my equal. You count. On God’s scale we all weigh the same. By being loyal to Him you can find your self-worth. There is dignity in being you.
Robert Louis Stevenson observed worthwhile people don’t just happen, they aren’t just born. They are born with the ability to become worthwhile. It is your job to discover and develop the man or woman you ought to be.”
Plodders are people who have found their better self, their personal el dorado and are mining it to the fullest. They are becoming all they were created with the ability to be.
Remember, as Moses instructed Israel, so, “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you…” (Deuteronomy 5:33)