"The Value of Friendship"

Scripture: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV

One of the greatest clichés that rings in my head is "No man is an island". This cliché implies that no man can live in this world completely by his or herself. It also implies that somewhere down the line, you are going to need help from someone. Case in point: Last year, I was driving in the rain, after getting out of church on a Wednesday night. Next thing I know, as I am about to enter the Capital Beltway, I hit a big pothole and next thing I know, I am hearing skidding and everything else. By the grace of God, I was able to drive up to an exit and find somewhere to park and get out of the way of traffic. I called one of my brothers from church and he came to help me out and waited until my insurance company sent someone to change my tire b/c I did not have a jack to change it myself. I value the friendship that my brother and I have because he came all the way from his home, to help me out. As men and women of God, we ought to have some friends, outside of the Heavenly Father, that can build us up, be critical of us in love, and help us to grow to what God has called us to be. Today's text further reveals the value of friendship.

The book of Ecclesiastes serves as our devotional setting for today. This book, written by King Solomon, is the fourth Poetic book of the Old Testament. Solomon deals with subjects such as things being vanity, wisdom, knowledge, and the value and knowing there's a time and season for everything. Within this particular chapter, Solomon talks about oppression, friendlessness, toil, and how advancement is meaningless. Within these negative sounding topics, Solomon has provided some "sunlight" in understanding the value of friendship.

He first begins today's text by saying, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work". Many of us know this statement to be fact, especially when it comes to moving furniture, placing a picture on the wall, painting something, etc. In the Kingdom of God, this statement holds true because when you are a child of God, and you are connected to God, then two is better than one. God and yourself can knock out any job you set your mind to! God and yourself can deliver you from past hurts! God and yourself can help you to become more financially stable! God and yourself can help you be the best husband for your wife and in turn, the best wife for your husband! With God continuously helping you out, it provides a good return for their work. When God is with you, no one or nothing can stop you from achieving what He has purposed for you! When two people are painting a wall, the wall can be completed faster! When two people are moving a chair, they can move the chair faster than one person! God wants you to pair up with Him, and in turn, pair up with someone who can help you gain a good return! Outside of this scripture, what's another reason why you should value friendship?

The last part of the text provides us the answer we desire. Solomon tells us that, "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" When you have a friend and a true friend at that, he/she can help you up when you have fallen! Your true friend will pray for you! Your true friend will bless you with money if that's necessary! Your true friend will minister to you when you are dead wrong in your mess! Your true friend will pick you up, dust you off, and help you! God is just like that with us! He picks us up! He ministers to us when we do not want to listen to anyone else! He dusts us off and tell us to try again on life! He provides us with what we need! Heck, He even provides with what we want! He desires that we have friends on Earth to help us grow! If we are His people and examples for this world, we need someone that can help us grow and blossom into awesome creatures in His Kingdom!

In closing, I thank God for allowing people to be there for me in critical situations. For those of you who can read this and have blessed me with your friendship, THANK YOU and God Bless You! Life is too important and too short to live it alone and not have some friends. Solomon taught us today the value of friendship. For those of you who have not told your friend Thank You for being there for you, you ought to text, call, or e-mail and let them know how much you appreciate them!