God works with our found family
Notes
Transcript
Family and friends can be one in the same
Family and friends can be one in the same
The reality of friendships is that when we look at who we surround ourselves with we can never fully comprehend what impact they may have in our lives. We are told in the book of Proverbs that we must be carefuller who we surround ourselves with, and what they do with our time. chapter 27 of proverbs details this many different times and in many different ways. the one verse that sticks out is verse 17. This verse looks at the positives that come from surrounding yourself with good and godly people.
As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.
Does anyone know what happens to a knife that is used over and over again without being sharpened? has anyone tried to cut a steak with the side of your fork? does it work?
It doesn't work because the side of a fork is dull. It is not sharp enough to cut things like a knife is. Over time a sharp knife doesn’t do the same job because the edge will get dull. What this bible verse talks about is a good friend is like a sharpening tool. you cant sharpen a knife off a block of wood. You need something harder that will be worked in the right way to make the edge of the knife sharp again.
In this way we need friends who is going to keep us accountable and make us better people. Our friendships should be a partnership of challenge and building each other to be better people. This can be through encouragement and guidance, this can also be done by correction if it is needed. but it all starts from the place of trust and friendship.
There are many examples of this in the Bible. 1 Samuel 20:12-15
Then Jonathan told David, “I promise by the Lord, the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know. But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the Lord strike me and even kill me if I don’t warn you so you can escape and live. May the Lord be with you as he used to be with my father. And may you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die, treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”
Or from a Daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law. Ruth 1:16
But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Each person mentioned has a friend that was helped them become better people. in the eyes of God these people worked in Gods will to help both David and Ruth become what he wanted them to become. Jonathan helped David become a King after Gods own heart, and Niomie Helped Ruth be redeemed by her Kin and help continue the linage of David to Jesus.