Pastor Doug preached once on what it means to be a true friend versus a well-wisher. It really has me thinking about my friendships. I pray for my friends, I call them, I send an email, and check on them from time to time, but does that mean I am a good friend?
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ
This was the scripture in my devotional today and it caused me to think about the sermon and my friendships. His sermon was based on the bible passage of the man with palsy (Luke 5:18), and what friends are willing to do for one another. When put in this perspective it makes you take a look at your friendships.
Do you have friends that if you were paralyzed would go and get you, carry you and your bed to Jesus, climb a ladder, cut a whole in a roof, and then lift you and your bed up and over into that cut hole and lower you in front of the feet of Jesus? Or would they merely say they will pray for you? Hoping you’d get better? It’s a powerful question.
Luke 5:18 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
More to the point are you that kind of friend? Are you the kind of friend who bears the burdens of another? Maybe our friends aren’t physically paralyzed but maybe they are emotionally paralyzed in pain over their divorce or their breakup? Maybe they have another kind of loss or pain and they need you, their friend, to go and get them! Are you whom someone would consider a true friend?
Pastor Susan 
Good question.
Wow!!! a lot of thought provoking questions lately:) I would like to think I would be the friend that would go get people but, I would have to be honest and say “I would hope it would NOT depend on how I am feeling because then I would not be a good friend” let me explain. We sometimes run on emotions or on how we are feeling and if a true friend came to me and asked for ANYTHING I would hope I am not the kind of friend that would say “oh not today I am not feeling it or I am too tired”, I would hope I am the one who would jump to help and say”what can i do for you…or how can I bless you today, can I help do something to lighten your load.” that is would I pray my response would be. A good thought provoking blog:)
It’s true! I have friends from my other job that I think about all the time. I wonder how they are doing and how they’ve been but in reality I haven’t taken the time to pick up the phone to make a simple 5 minute call. It’s not a hard thing to do…. so what excuse do I have? Probably none. This is why I love reading your blogs….they’re as you would say “provoking” in a very good way of course! I’ll be making at least 2 call tonight….that’s for sure.