KEY SCRIPTURE: John 13:21 “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”

One of the painful parts of life is when the one you love turns against you. Proverbs 25:19 says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.” This is when that which you are leaning on fails you.

Friends are supposed to be a house of refuge, a defender against predators, and an encourager when you are down. In light of this, we tend to place our trust in them or on them.

Our key scripture revealed how Jesus became troubled in his spirit because a close pal was going to betray him. Jesus loved all his disciples and loved Judas as well. If an enemy betrays or hurts you, you may not be so hurt, but a betrayal by a friend hurt so much. Friends have a special place in the hearts of their associates. A betrayal sends cold chills through the individual’s heart.

Proverbs 18:24 teaches, “A man that had friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” This is the Lord’s advice to all. If you have a friend, then you should not be a fair-weather friend. Your friendship must be real. It is amazing to have certain friends who call on their friends when times are hard or difficult for them. Such people are not true friends. Showing yourself friendly is sharing your life with your friends. You share good things with them and are ready to know them, and also be of help in times of difficulty. You should be a friend who sticks closer than a brother. The basis for such friendship is selflessness.

Judas was not a friend. He loved money and was rather full of himself. He was basically selfish. Such people are dangerous. Judas was around Jesus because of what he could obtain. John 12:6 “This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. “

Friendship is for caring and showing love. Happiness in life is not about what you can get from others, but what you can give , or how much you can put smiles on the faces of others. Make sure you are the friend who seeks to give, help, and support. Remember, you always reap what you sow. Jesus taught; it is always better to give than to receive.

Friendship must evolve from association to relationship. An association is when you meet to talk and fellowship, but relationship is when there develops the feeling of brotherliness among you.At this stage you share things in common.

THOUGHT: YOU ARE A BETTER AND HAPPIER PERSON IF OTHERS CAN SAFELY RELY ON YOU.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ruth 1:16 “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Proverbs 25:19 “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.”