Walking Together

This is a sermon preview for the fourth week of our “Walking in Wisdom: A Lenten Study of Proverbs” series. 

Visit FBCM’s Church Center Channel to view video live stream or audio version of sermon (published week after).

“... [V]ictory is won through many advisers.”

-from Proverbs 24:3-7

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

-from Proverbs 17:10-12

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

-from Hebrews 10:19-25

---

A couple of years ago, a survey released suggesting our society is experiencing what researchers termed a "friendship recession." The survey found "only about half of the public is fully satisfied with the number of friends they have." And while the problem presents with both me nand women, men are especially likely to report few friends: "The percentage of men with at least six close friends fell by half since 1990, from 55 percent to 27 percent." (AEI/ Survey Center on American Life).

Friendship is worth considering. Not only because it has become a concern for "civic life," but because the strange new world of the Bible causes us to think about friendship in a new way. Jesus calls his own disciples friends (John 15:15). Abraham is called a "friend of God" (Isaiah 41:8,James 2:23). What does it mean, however, to be a friend (and what might friends have to do with our theme this Lent: walking in wisdom)?

There was once a 12th century Christian writer and thinker. His name was Aelred. He categorized friendship into three types, with only the last being true friendship. When we're friends, we're united with another person with something in common.

• Carnal Friendship: This type is based on the pursuit of pleasure. In this one is simply seeking a good time: to eat, drink, and be merry.

  
  

• Worldly Friendship: Involves the pursuit of worldly success, such as acquiring money and power, as the primary goal. This might be someone you're "thick as thieves" with, who is a trusted confidant, but your goals are (more or less) "worldly".

• Spiritual Friendship: Is grounded in discipleship and love for God. It should be selfless and a place in which the friends seek to grow in virtue and holiness together. They become not only closer to one another, but their friendship ultimately leads them closer to God. There is a permanency and rootedness to this type of true friendship.

In short, when Christians talk about friendship, we're not just talking about making buddies who are fun to watch the game with (though you may do so and that can be very enjoyable and even good)! Friendship is a spiritual practice: good friends are loyal guides which help us understand wisdom. To be a bad friend is to be feckless and fickle, there when it is convenient and not particularly seeking the good of another.

There are many proverbs about the type of "counsel" or "company" one keeps, and what it means to be a friend. In Proverbs, the author warns us that we are easily influenced by those around us. Solomon, often associated with Proverbs and Wisdom, named many people advisers when he was King. One, named Zabud, is listed as a priest, but something more as well. Some translations called him a "trusted adviser" but the word used simply means "friend." (1 Kings 4:5)

To be a friend, in fact, is a very important job. No, not a job in the sense we get a paycheck to do it. But friendship is a duty as well as a joy, all the same.

In these proverbs, and with a reminder of Jesus himself, we will consider how God is calling our church to use our gifts to encourage and deepen one another's faith, as we continue to Jerusalem, and then the cross and, finally, the tomb in the coming weeks.

I can't wait to join you to worship the Lord and open his word, my friends!

Jonathan