Helping a Friend

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 The Message  It's better to have a partner than go it alone.  Share the work, share the wealth.  And if one falls down, the other helps...

Proverbs 17:17 NKJV  A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

"You've got a friend in me. You've got a friend in me.  When the road seems tough ahead and your miles and miles from your nice warm bed..." Most people recognize this Randy Newman song from the Disney movie, Toy Story and it draws to mind warm memories of pals, buds, friends and the like.  But how does this friendship translate into the Kingdom?  I have had two situations come up within the last week that I have had a friend help me and I have been a help to a friend.

About a week ago, I was talking with a friend and I had an encouragement to share with him some of the revelation that I have been having around the Kingdom of God and being a citizen and representative of that Kingdom.  We had a nice discussion and he was really happy to see that I had begun to step into some new things in my faith walk.  Just a few days ago, this friend called me near the end of somewhat of a long day.  When I answered the phone he said to me, "Just thought I'd call to see how your doin' operating in the Kingdom today."  I immediately smiled and whatever thought processes I had going about work or what needed to get organized or cleaned at home all stood at attention while my retrained my focus on being a Kingdom citizen.  It brought all these other thoughts into perspective and I began walk a bit easier.  I was glad for my friend and his call.

Yesterday, I got a text message from another friend, whom I don't normally get text messages from that time of the evening asking me what I was doing.  After a few exchanges, I asked if everything was ok and he shared that it had been a "long couple of weeks".  I had a particular open door with this friend, so I shared with him - "Chin up, bro.  You know that you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)"  I encouraged him to spend some time with Romans 8 last night.  I trust that this was an encouragement to him and plan on talking with him either tonight or in the coming days.

It seems to me that friends in the Kingdom ought to be encouraging each other not to "just hang in there" or even to throw a pity party for them.  They should be reminding them in a loving way that they are citizens of the Kingdom of heaven and that all God's promises are Yes! and AMEN! (2 Corinthians 1:20)  Pointing out that they are more than conquerors.  Standing alongside, putting your arm around and walking with them through the situation.

One of the many definition Vine's uses for brother is "persons united by a common calling".  We have a common calling, as we believed with our hearts and confessed with our mouth that "Jesus is Lord", to be aware of His Kingdom purposes and to serve Him.  We are in this together and as such be available to keep the team strong.  Lord, thank you for my brethren who help me keep my focus!