We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. (2 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV)
For many years, I would play golf with anyone. As a competitive player, I was often paired with those I didn’t know, and as someone who would sometimes show up to the course alone I’d get paired with others who were new to me. It won’t surprise you that some of these were better fits than others. On a good day, I’d make a new friend—at least for a few hours.
Our real friends are those we live with for more than a few hours, of course. And these friends, those with whom I’ve developed a relationship over months and years, are the ones I want to play golf now. If I’m not out there with a friend, I’d rather not play. But I’ve also learned in this elongated season of physical ups and down that I don’t need to play to enjoy the company of these friends; I’m happy just to ride along if that’s all I feel good for.
One such friend for me is Tim Philpot, who writes with us each month. Recently Tim noted that too many men have few friends. Maybe this is true for women, too (surely for some), but Tim was writing from his own experience and observation.
The Thessalonians were growing in faith and they were increasing in love—undeniable marks that these were Christ’s people.
Whether you fall into the “many friends” or “few friends” category, you have likely asked the question, What makes for friends? And you’ve followed it up with, How can I build such friendships into my life?
Without God in mind, your answering questions will have to do with interests—Do they play golf? Do they like to talk about current events? Are they a fan of my team? Where do they like to go out to eat? Are they a car buff? But with God in mind, your focus should land elsewhere. And when you consider today’s passage in Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, that focus should be on faith and love.
Foundationally, we can pray for any loved one in this way: “Lord, draw my friend to you.” Christ went to the cross for this purpose (John 12:32). If your friend is not yet a believer, this prayer is a prayer for salvation; if your friend is a believer, it is a prayer for greater closeness with Jesus.
But look at Paul’s ongoing prayers for the Thessalonians. They were prayers of thanksgiving, offered for two reasons. The Thessalonians were growing in faith and they were increasing in love—undeniable marks that these were Christ’s people.
With God in mind, we review our time and role with friends much differently than we otherwise would. We don’t come away from an evening together saying, “What a fine meal! What lively conversation! We’ll have to do it again sometime.” Rather, with God in mind, we want to be able to say, “My faith was fed tonight, and I was encouraged to love others more truly. Even if lose my friend tomorrow or they lose me, we will have gained so much by what God has shown us tonight.”
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Jeff Hopper
May 11, 2021
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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