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“The Perfume of
Friendship--Friendship (Part 1)”
By Susanne Scheppmann
Key
Verse:
“The
heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.”
Proverbs 27:9
(NLT)
Devotion:
Friends.
They come in all shapes and sizes. Some have big hearts. A few deliver the
sunshine of laughter. One may offer a slender shoulder for you to cry on. One
ally might listen while you whine, another may speak the truth even when it
hurts. One girlfriend may bring a casserole when you are sick, still another
offers a prayer for healing. Pals will compliment you, hug you, watch your
kids, and send you a birthday card. Or they might call once a year just to
catch up on life. Whichever type of friends filter through your life, true
healthy friendships are a gift from God.
We
learn the importance of friendship at a very early age. I remember my friend’s
three- year-old daughter throwing out the worst insult she could conceive. Her
little freckled face in a scowl, she would growl, “You no my friend!”
Throughout
our lives, we long for friendship. This fact is supported by the television
shows that we loyally have tuned into throughout the decades. We hum lyrics
from the Cheers theme song “Sometimes
you want to go, Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you
came.” We watch Friends with hopes we
too might develop friends through the ups and downs of life. We purchase DVDs
of Seinfeld because the characters
seem like old friends to us.
Today’s
verse, “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense,”
reminds us of the importance of friendship in our lives, Friendships enrich our
lives. They help us through the valleys of despair and rejoice with us on the
mountaintops of joy. Friends do life with us. Which of your friends has been
with you through your joys and depressions?
Friends
help hold us accountable in what we do. My friend, Sally, holds me accountable
to exercise with her. If it weren’t for her, I would stay in my pajamas,
instead of putting on my walking shoes. Scriptures tells us, “You use steel to
sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17 MSG). Sally keeps
me dedicated to our agreement to improve our health and fitness. Another friend
encourages me in my walk with God. I admire her dedication to God. Her passion
sharpens my desire for a closer walk with the Lord Do you have a friend that inspires you in
some way?
Of
course, in order to have good friends, you must be a good friend to others.
Certain qualities promote deep and lasting friendships. For example, honesty
and loyalty set the foundation for friendship that can last a lifetime. My best
friends are people I can trust and I want them to know they can trust me, too.
In addition, patience, kindness and a sense of humor are essential in
developing and maintaining enduring friendship. Recently, I forgot a lunch date
with a girlfriend. Hours later I remembered; horrified I called only to
discover she had completed forgotten it, too. Relieved, we laughed together at
our forgetfulness. A good chuckle at our human foibles helps us to keep in mind
that even the best friendships will have imperfections. Do you show kindness,
patience, and humor in your friendships?
Friendship!
It’s one of the true riches we can have in life. Will you thank God for
personal friendships?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me a variety of
friendships to help me walk the road of life. I am especially grateful for the
friends who inspire me. Lord Jesus, teach me how to be a better friend. In Your
Name, I pray. Amen.
Application
steps:
Say
a prayer of thanksgiving for specific friend in your in your life. Take a moment
to send a card or an email to a friend whom you haven’t spoken with for
awhile.
Reflections:
What
character traits do I value in a friendship?
What
type of friend am I?
Do
I treasure the friendships in my life?
Power
verses:
Proverbs
25:13, “Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in
sweltering heat—refreshing!” (MSG)
Proverbs
18:24, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like
family.” (MSG)
© 2007 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
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