In John chapter 15, Jesus spoke:
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
True friendship is one based on Love. Friends don’t attempt to exploit the other but are there for each other especially in times of need. There is no division among them for they both are promoting the other in their relationship. What a wonderful commandment as friendship can spread to include more people to the point where all of those with such relationships are promoting Love, life, and peace. Before long the entire globe could be covered with this one great commandment.
We must never let inconvenience dictate our relationship with friends. You can be assured there will be times where you must choose between helping a brother in need and choosing the easier path. Love does what is right without regard to the barriers we must overcome to be a blessing to our friends. The overall theme of Love is to be of a giving nature, not a “taker”.
How do we determine how good of a friend we are? By the longevity of our friendship. No one would expect Lord Jesus to abandon us for He is committed for all of eternity. If you want a long-term friendship you must work at it and nurture it. If issues arise, resolve them quickly and let not a breach develop. If you have a difference of theology, then don’t make it an issue and simply accept the person for where he or she is at. Who is to say your doctrine is totally without error? Expressly look for what you have in common, not what will divide you. Sometimes it is better to simply be quiet about potentially divisive areas. Let your actions do the talking.
Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 6:
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
If you need to boast about anything, focus on Our Lord Jesus Christ… not yourself. Consider your conversation and assess whether the topic always ends up about you or your accomplishments. You would be surprised how the ego will turn the conversation with others to “self”. I have nothing to boast about except Our Lord. All my accomplishments are but dung when compared to what Christ did for me at the cross. Any achievements are but temporal when compared to eternity. You can express your Love to your brother or sister by focusing on them and showing genuine interest in their life.
All for now, I need to go forth and do some acts of Love!