Those who enjoyed 80’s rap music will remember the group Whodini. They had a song titled ‘Friends’ that asked the question, “How many of us have them? The song went on to say, “One’s we can depend on.” Think about it right now and write down the names of 3-5 friends that you know you can depend on to be there for you without a doubt. Those people that you listed are people you more than likely have spent quality time with. You’ve laughed together and probably cried together. You’ve spent time developing those relationships and that is why you know they are dependable and there for you.
The question for us today is, do we still spend time cultivating these types of deep relationships? Or have we gotten caught up in the allure and ease of having hundreds of “friends” on Facebook without ever really committing any time to developing any of those relationships. Social media has actually made us less social to the point where a quick like of a picture on Facebook is all we give some of our “friends”. I think maybe Facebook should change them from “friends” to “acquaintances” because sadly that’s what the majority of the relationships are.
I have gotten caught up in the ease of Facebook and how it can help us connect with so many. But I also understand the need to develop and cultivate true friendships as well. Day 7 of the Essentials For Living devotional by Pastor Rick Warren talked about the need for us to cultivate deep meaningful relationships. We need to have those people in our lives we can turn to for help when circumstances get rough, and they will. I personally have people in my life today I could call on in times of trouble and they would be there. And they know I would do the same for them. Those are the types of relationships God wants us to have with each other. These relationships don’t just help us get through our lives but they help us to enjoy our lives.
I love this quote from Pastor Rick, “You can be so busy networking, contacting, socializing, and making acquaintances that you never give the time and energy and effort it takes to cultivate the deep, satisfying intimacy of a good friend or a good wife or a good husband.” Proverbs 20:6 (NLT) states, “Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable.”
Today’s action step is to look at your friendships and see which one’s you are cultivating. If you aren’t cultivating any deep, meaningful friendships then ask yourself why not? We all need those friends in our lives who will call us out when we are not living right but who will also pick us up and dust us off when we’ve fallen. Do you have that type of friend in your life today?
Truth in Love! ~ Chuck