Healthy Friendship, Salvation Close at Hand

Friendship is one of the important elements we need in our walk of faith. As social beings, we need other people so that we can work together and help one another. And, Friendship is a means God has given to support our spiritual growth.

However, not every story of Friendship ends well. Many fall apart halfway through, and instead of growing in faith, they actually give rise to bitterness and hatred within us.

So, how do we build Friendship that can keep us on the path of salvation?

The Role of a Friend's Faith in Your Salvation

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man: "Son, your sins are forgiven!" – Mark 2:5

The story of the paralyzed man healed in Mark 2:1-12 is an example of Friendship that builds up.

This paralyzed man was carried by his four friends to meet Jesus at a house. Because the place was packed with people listening to His teaching, they could not get in through the front door. Not giving up, these four men opened up the roof to lower their friend before Jesus.

Usually Jesus healed someone after seeing that person's faith, how sincerely that person believed in Him. But this case is unique because in verse five, it says that Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man's friends.

Through this story, we learn how important the role of friends is in the spiritual journey. Friends are helpers who lift us up and encourage us out of our weaknesses. The four friends in the story above could have given up as soon as they saw such a large crowd. They could have been unwilling to struggle for their friend's healing. But they did not back down. Instead, they became even more determined and were willing to go to great trouble so their friend could meet Jesus.

Friendship like this is what we need to follow. Not the kind that sees someone's weakness as a disgrace to avoid or a reason to exclude them, or even worse, as gossip material, but the kind that helps one another and bears one another's weaknesses.

“We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are not strong and not please ourselves.” – Romans 15:1

There are friendships Friendship that depend on situations or conditions. The relationship is solid when everything is happy, but when things do not go as expected, its value becomes fragile.

There are also Friendship that are built to seek personal comfort. One party only wants to be accepted, heard, and noticed, but is unwilling to help or listen to the other. Once they get what they want, or when their comfort is disturbed, they will leave their friend.

Friendship That Sharpens One Another

Iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

According to God's word, "friction" in Friendship is something natural, and may even need to happen. Friendship that is good is like sharpening iron. In the process, there will be collisions, hard pounding, even sparks. But after all that is endured, a more valuable product will be formed, both in function and in durability.

Likewise, if people respond well and endure the process of Friendship, they will become more valuable people (people of character).

Friendship that is healthy is Friendship that sharpens one another, giving mutual influence. In it, we do not merely seek comfort or a harmonious atmosphere, but dare to admonish, correct, and give spiritual expectations to our friends. Of course, while remaining grounded in love.

However, before seeking or demanding Friendship, it is better for us to become good friends to others. Be a friend who is loving, willing to sacrifice, and builds others up according to God's will.

By building Friendship properly, the joy and peace of God will not be far from us. The struggle to attain salvation will feel closer because it is carried out together with our friends. And, quoting Kahlil Gibran: "Friendship is not an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility.”

May God bless the friendship you have.

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