What is the precise meaning of friend? None of the dictionaries I went to could accurately and comprehensively define it. Generally it was described as a person for whom you have a bond of affection/trust, an ally, and a companion. But some of those definitions also varied on whether the person was a family member or not and some used acquaintance as part of the description. In addition, a friend can simply be a non-enemy or supporter of a cause. Finally, it also stands for social media connections. None of that helped me gain a definitive description of what a friend is. It’s not that I don’t know what a friend is. I just don’t think explaining friendship is cut and dry. Even how someone becomes a friend is not universal. The timeline of friendship is not the same for all. In fact, it seems that each friendship can be unique. That uniqueness raised questions in my mind. At what point does a person become a friend? Can someone be a friend to another in spite of the friendship remaining unreciprocated? Is there a certain level of trust that has to be met to be friends? Does the value of the friendship depend on the extent of heart revelation shared? Can you have a friend in stages from shallow to deep? The only place I could find a true definition of friend and also answers to those questions, was in the Word. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15. Friendship is defined by the Love Jesus has for us. As He loved us, we love. How did He Love? He took the initiative and He considered everyone a friend worth dying for. If I imitate Him anybody can be a friend and I can give of my life regardless of their actions/words. But I can’t claim I’m Jesus friend if I refuse to obey His words since it is a command. He died for all of mankind, establishing us as friends even though we had done nothing to justify His Sacrifice. We are actually guilty of doing The complete opposite. So,the meaning of friendship is found in unconditional Love. It is ideal if both parties are friends, but it isn’t necessary. According to Jesus’ definition, it only takes one loving person to be a friend. If I love like Him, I don’t aim to acquire specific personal recipricol friends. I am a friend, period.
Love Always ???
