Friend or Acquaintance?

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

What does this mean?  That I would take a bullet for a friend?  Well, yes I believe so.  However, I believe it goes much further than that.

I have a friend, (and maybe after studying this scripture, the term friend is being used loosely)

 this “friend” swore he would give up his life for mine.  I was flattered, for only a minute.  I quickly remembered all the times he let me down.  Times he didn’t honor commitments, times he betrayed my trust, and times he wasn’t there for me when I needed a shoulder. How in the world could I trust this person with my life when I couldn’t trust him to show up any other time?

You see, I believe, like so many others, that this “friend” had heard this scripture or something like it and thought how honorable & selfless it is to literally die for someone else.  So they “use” the scripture to prove their love for their “friends”, knowing that the likelihood of them literally dying for someone is not going to happen. 

I believe when Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”, He wasn’t just talking about literal death.  He was saying die to your flesh, your wants, needs, desires and serve your friends.  Serve your friends with love, compassion & consideration, with thanksgiving in your heart. Take care of your friends even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable for you. Be joyful & glad to do it.  And if necessary protect them with your life. 

So my question is, if people really understood what it meant to ‘lay down one’s life’, would they be so quick to say, ‘yeah, I would die for you.’  My guess is they would not.  You see we live in a very selfish fallen world and for the most part a true friend is a rare find.

I do not set New Year resolutions, but I do set goals, and this year one of my goals is to become a better friend. I can't change the world but I can change me.

Are you a Friend or Acquaintance?

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.