A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP 2

"THERE ARE “friends” WHO PRETEND TO BE FRIENDS, BUT THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER."
Proverbs 18:24 (the Living Bible)

• An example of friendly relationship which is of God is; David and Jonathan friendly relationship, It was God ordained and covenant based:
"NOW WHEN HE [David] HAD FINISHED SPEAKING TO SAUL, THE SOUL OF JONATHAN WAS KNIT TO THE SOUL OF DAVID, AND JONATHAN LOVED HIM AS HIS OWN SOUL" (1 Samuel 18:1 NKJV).

• There are some people whom God would allowed to be with you, or around you, in the journey of your life; for a strategic reason or purpose—that you might fulfil His plans for your life.
• Jonathan's friendly relationship with David was a strategic relationship, orchestrated by God Himself, for the Fulfilment of God's plan for David's life—his enthronement.
• David treasured his friendly relationship with Jonathan, because he understood the significance, or the strategic importance of the relationship.
• If David's friendly relationship with Jonathan was taken for granted, King Saul, Jonathan's father, could have succeeded in his plan about the killing of David, to abort God's plan and purpose for his life:
  32 AND Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “WHY SHOULD HE BE KILLED? WHAT HAS HE DONE?” 33 Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, BY WHICH JONATHAN KNEW THAT IT WAS DETERMINED BY HIS FATHER TO KILL DAVID. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, FOR HE WAS GRIEVED FOR DAVID, BECAUSE HIS FATHER HAD TREATED HIM SHAMEFULLY" (1 Samuel 20:32-34 NKJV).
• Friendly relationship of Jonathan with David was strategic and covenant based for the fulfilment of God's plan for David's life.

• Some people have broken their God-ordained friendly relationships which God planned or orchestrated for the Fulfilment of His Purposes in their lives.

• When they broke such relationships, which God wanted them to work with, in bringing His plans to the Fulfilment in their lives; nothing is heard of them anymore—things would no longer working for them again.
• Barnabas and Paul's relationship was also strategic and covenant based. The relationship was orchestrated by God (Acts 9:26-28; 11:22-26).
• Note: the important thing you would have to pay attention to is, in every relationship, especially the God-ordained one, are the tests in such relationships.
  a. You may be thinking that you are not benefiting from the relationship, that you are being used, and might want to quit as a result of it.
  b. There also might be a sharp disagreement, as the friendship or relationship progresses.
• The friendly relationship, between Paul and Barnabas, and the companionship of working together in fulfilling Purposes, was truncated; because of contentions and rifts—the disagreement between them:
  37 NOW BARNABAS WAS DETERMINED TO TAKE WITH THEM JOHN CALLED MARK. 38 BUT Paul INSISTED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, AND HAD NOT GONE WITH THEM TO THE WORK. 39 THEN THE CONTENTION BECAME SO SHARP THAT THEY PARTED FROM ONE ANOTHER. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus" (Acts 15:37-39 NKJV).
• We heard nothing of Barnabas' works after he separated from Paul. He surely did work, but we have no record of whatever he did, or possibly not canonized.
• Do not abuse God-ordained friendly relationships. God has brought you into friendship or relationship with some people, that without Such people in your life, you might easily not get to the place which God has ordained you to be.
• If a relationship of yours with someone is God-ordained, and covenant based; do not break it, even If it seems you are being hurt, or being used, and seems not benefiting from the relationship.
  • How would you know a friendly relationship you cultivated is of God:
  (i) A friendly relationship that is approved by God would have peace As a witness or sign. You would have a witness of peace on the inside of you, which is given by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14,16). The Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit about the person, the relationship, that, It is of God.
  (ii) A friendly relationship that is God-ordained would have added one thing or another to you, when you entered into it; spiritually, emotionally, or physically.
  a. No relationship leaves you the same, It either added to you, or subtracted, taken away, from you.
  b. It either makes, or mars, that is, inflicts damage, on you.
  (iii) A friendly relationship which is of God would seek your progress and fulfilment.
  ALTHOUGH, what a godly friendly relationship offered you might be tough, but It is for your good and progress (Hebrews 12:11).
  (iv) A friendly relationship which is God-ordained would be sacrificial, not parasitic, and would be without betrayal. Neither of David nor Jonathan betrayed one another.
  a. In the friendly relationship of David and Jonathan, they were loyal and faithful to each other, till death, and even after the death of one partner; the loyalty and faithfulness was still intact:
  6 NOW when Mephibosheth 2 THE SON OF JONATHAN, THE SON OF SAUL, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7 SO DAVID SAID TO HIM, “DO NOT FEAR, FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW YOU KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN YOUR FATHER'S SAKE, AND WILL RESTORE TO YOU ALL THE LAND OF SAUL YOUR GRANDFATHER; And YOU SHALL EAT BREAD [food] AT MY TABLE CONTINUALLY" (2 Samuel 9:1,6,7 NKJV).
  b. Because the friendship was God-ordained and covenant based (1 Samuel 20:14-17).

• How to treat friendly relationship: Especially If the friendly relationship is of God:
(i) Be faithful and committed to your partner or friend—the other person in the relationship.
(ii) Do not badmouth or speak ill of the person—your friend. Be ready to defend him or her when others are against them, whether in their presence or absence (1 Samuel 20:15; 2 Samuel 9:1,37).
EVEN at the detriment of his life, Jonathan defended David before his father, Saul:
32 “But why should he be put to death?” Jonathan asked his father. “What has he done?” 33 THEN SAUL HURLED HIS SPEAR AT JONATHAN, INTENDING TO KILL HIM. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David" (1 Samuel 20:32,33 NLT).
(iii) Be willing to invest in the relationship, because it would cost you something: your time, money, prayers, and whatever. Do not hesitate to invest in it, whatever you put in for the friendship to stand, would eventually be harvested.

• Guard jealously the God-ordained friendly relationship in your life. It is a treasure that should be defended and guarded.

• That said, any friendly relationship which is not God-ordained in your life should be quitted or ended.
• Your fulfilment in life is at stake If you stick to an ungodly friendship or relationship.
• Note:
  a. Whoever is inciting you against the authorities over your life; your spiritual parents, your biological parents, and your Boss, should not be hung out with.
  b. That person whom you claimed that your friendship with is platonic, but the supposed friendly relationship is gradually becoming sexual relationship, which is immortality, Why are you still in it?
  c. Whatever friendly relationship that would not help you in your walk with God should be quitted.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• If you are having any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!