The Prodigal's Friends
'After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.'
Luke 15: 14 [NIV]
Do you have any Fair Weather Friends? You know the symptoms. When you throw a party, they will be expecting an invitation. When you stand at the bar, they will take a drink from you, happily. When you offer them free tickets to a concert or a film, they are your best friends. But what happens when you need something from them? You can't see them for dust. Fair-weather friends also keep their options open, if you invite them to something they might seem willing to come – but if a better, more exciting opportunity clashes with your event, they will have no qualms about cancelling you.
There is truth in the saying that 'a friend in need is a friend indeed'. True friends will support you when you are down and give you whatever they can offer when you are in need. The Prodigal's Friends were temporary, they were material and finite and when the good times were over, they disappeared – just like the inheritance he spent having a good time.
Think about who you might have as friends today. Are there any motives behind your friendship? Could they be your chosen friends because of what they can do for you, or are you thinking about what you could do for them?
'Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
John 15: 13 [NIV]
Lord, teach us more about selfless friendships. Amen.
Dave MacLellan
(originally published in 2003) | |
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