“And without all contradiction, the less is blessed of, the better.” Hebrews 7:7
In any relationship, having a humble mind toward others sets you up to be blessed. Serving the good and potential of others as a motivation often will set you up to be blessed to the good, and your own potentiality is increased.
Granted, it is a principle of sowing. One must sow kindness, care, and interest into many to discover those who are receptive and able to participate in an exchange of kindness that produces lasting friendships.
In true friendships, there are many times when one has to choose to be “the better” for the good of the other. One cannot keep score and hold on to every slight perceived or real. Giving space and allowance for others to have a bad day and attitude and continuing to be their friend. However, for this to be real, this cannot be one-sided.
Not everyone can be a friend because some just refuse to be friendly at their core. Not on a day, but almost any day, they can’t be bothered to care about someone who “they thought was a friend.” Can’t cut slack. Can’t forgive. Can’t show compassion. So these individuals celebrate an opportunity to cut people off and wash their hands. They become what they accuse everyone else of being.
Others are too timid or passive to take the time and make an effort to demonstrate care.
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
How many times have I heard people talk about the importance of having friends? However, sadly, too many are unwilling to make investments in the relationship bank over time to make and nurture friendships.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17
If you want to improve, you have to choose to be engaged with others who are making a difference.
“only Jonathan and David knew the matter.”
You see, in this relationship, a self-sacrificing attitude to serve the good in others and not simply seeing people how they help us.
Isolating yourself away from others does nothing but keep you from the potential benefit you receive from others.
I am blessed to have friends that are so much better than me. I am really the lesser blessed, the better. Why, you may ask?
I could say, to be funny, I am helping them be so awesome.
However, I know the real score. My life is rich because they have been kind enough to be my friend when I have not been my best.
A mutual admiration society. This is a definition of true friendship.
I have heard it said that if a man has five friends, that man is rich.
I understand this to be so true. I consider myself very rich.
I believe we see this exemplified in Jesus. The Lord of heaven washed the feet of his disciples.
Jesus, the friend that sticks closer than a brother, challenges us to be that kind of friend.
Read and consider.
John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
John 13:14
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
