Sermon from March 22, 2026

Friendship with Christ.  Life is easier with another.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

If your Bibles, if you return with me to the book of Ecclesiastes, we're gonna look today, not at the entire chapter, but at a portion of the chapter. The idea to think about today is a life that is meaningless without having Christ as your friend. We have to be careful when I think having Christ as your friend, because sometimes we can have friends like the song would go in low places, friends that would bring us down. But I'm thinking more along the terms of biblical friendship and how that looks, and not look not just a biblical friendship, but to see at the end of the sermon how Christ actually calls us not servant, but a friend. So typically as we walk through this, I'd normally go verse by verse to do the entire 16 verses today because we're going to partake of the Lord's Supper. So just a quick glance at the chapter as a whole, it starts off with some more of this political oppression, those who are being oppressed, and talk about the vanity of life because of verses one through three. We go from there into the idea of the meaningless of wealth when you look for that wealth to be what gives you happiness in life and not Jesus Christ Himself. Then we're going to move over to the idea of friendship, and that's what I want us to focus on today. Friendship looking at verses 9 through 12, and that will be our focus, with the end that we want to look at once again would be the concept of politics. Not in terms of today's politics, but in terms of the same political corruption that you would see and hear about in verses 1 through 3. So let's walk together through verses 9 through 12. And as we're thinking about that, the first thing that comes to my mind, I know I'm immature, but I think about that song from Toy Story. Remember the song Woody Would Sing? And I'm not going to sing it, but it goes the words are something like this you have a friend in me. You remember that? Do you have a friend? Do you have a friend? I think back over our life. If I can go back far enough, I can remember the best friend growing up. Sometimes you just give titles to people that they're like your best friend, like they're better than any of the other ones. And I think about a friend named Chip. Okay. I don't see him as much anymore because he lives in North Carolina and I live here in Orangeburg, but he's still a friend. We can pick up the phone and talk to each other. We don't do it often, but when we do, it's like we had missed a bee from growing up. Living around the world, I've got other friends. Many of them I can call without missing a bee. And there's that connection, that lifeline, if you will, outside of my spouse, somebody who I can talk to about things that are going on and get advice. Do you have a friend that you can talk to? Someone that'll listen to you or can give you an encouragement, but yet still speak the truth and tell you like it is, call a spade a spade. And then lastly, to think about would Jesus call you a friend. So as we look at this, let's take a look at a few things that scripture, a few things that scripture tells us about friendship. Look at Proverbs 17, 17. It said, A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. You want to know who a true friend is, they're going to be with you, not only through the good times, but when those bad times hit, they're going to be right there with you. Since a brother is born for adversity, that doesn't mean that my little brother was born so I could have trouble in life. He could cause me trouble. He probably did a little bit, not a lot. He's not listening today, so we're good. But that idea of a brother is born for adversity. Solomon, when he wrote Proverbs, knew that there would be difficult times. And what he's saying there is those brothers, those friends, they were born to be there with you when you go through difficult times. But you know what the problem is? Sometimes we think, you know, I don't really need a friend. I can hold it. I can hold it all in. I'm the masterbone universe. I don't need to talk to anybody about my problems. And what happens when we do that? Stress, blood pressure goes up, life gets out of whack. Wasn't it in Genesis, maybe 218? The Lord says man needs a companion. Now, in that case, he gave man a wife, setting up the idea of family, which is perfect. But the concepts there is that we were not made to live this life on our own. A friend loves at all times. Somebody who's not a friend may just love you when things are going well, or they can get something from you, if you're a benefit to them. But when those hard times come, God intended us for us to have friends. Not only that, but to be a friend as well. Let's look at another verse in Proverbs. Verse 18, excuse me, chapter 18, verse 24. A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. This reminds me of Costa Rica. We moved to Costa Rica, we had what you would call hundreds of friends. They like making friendships there. But the catch is it's very shallow friendship, except for a close few. The opposite that we experienced where we lived in Mexico is you wouldn't have a lot of friends, but the ones that you did have, you got close to, and you were friends for life. And they would be with you and do anything for you. I'm not going to take time now to give all the stories, but trust me on that. There's a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Now, obviously, part of that points to Christ, the fact that he's never going to leave us nor forsake us. But I pray that we have friends that would be like that. And better yet, I pray that we would be people who would be friends to those who need friends. Not only to receive that friendship, but to give that friendship. So Solomon now, let's look at the scripture. He's gone through life is meaningless without Christ. He's talked about the political aspect of the oppression of people, uh, the wealth of gaining all this wealth, but yet not having meaningfulness in life. Now he talks about the value of friendship. So let's let's break this down. The first one here, verse 9 of chapter 4. It says, Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. What is he saying here? One person can work and they can work alone, they can get things done, and there will be a reward for that. Kind of like the old African proverb: if you want to go fast, go along. But if you want to go far, go with someone. You work with someone else, that's an extra hand, that's an extra help. More money can be made that way. I think about it from a business perspective. I'm running a small business and I've got a couple guys that help me. On the days that they show up, I'm super motivated, I'm excited, and we can get a bunch done together. But on the days they don't show up, all of a sudden something comes across me like I just ain't got it in me today. That motivation seems to drop a little bit. I'm not working as much, not getting paid as much. Two are better than one because there's a good reward for their toll. Just simply looking at uh making money working together. Here's another one. Look at verse 10. It says, For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Now, when I think about that at my age, I'm thinking about the idea if I get that on the ground, I need to have a way to get myself up. I have to think about that. You should not think about that, you should just jump right up. Well, I don't do that anymore. I imagine you might could relate to what I'm talking about, but maybe not. No. But here's the deal. When one goes down, is it not easier to have somebody lift you up? Now, in our house, sometimes if I get on the ground for something, I might extend my hand to Debbie. And she can put her hand out, I'll grab it, and she can kind of help me get up. We kind of work together. Now, I'll do the same with my grandkids, but there's a difference. You know the difference, right? With the grandkids, if I were to pull them like I pulled Debbie's hand, they're gonna be in my lap. So it doesn't quite work that way with little ones. But the concept of a friend, when things turn bad, do you have someone to turn to? A friend who can help you up. If they fall, one will lift up his fellow friends lift each other up. But woe or in vain, or how sad it is when one falls alone who has not another to lift him up. Now here's the catch for that. In my opinion, for the record, my opinion, could it be that the issue with this is this thing called pride? I can do it all myself, I don't need anybody's help. Young or old, single or married or widowed, whatever it may be. Pray that we would understand what Solomon is talking about here, the value of friendship, mutual friendship. Let's look at the next one here. It says in verse 11, again, if two lie together, they keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Now, here's where I want you to focus with me for a second on this, okay? Because you've got to be careful how you read this. This right here is not talking about the idea of a husband and wife who might lie together in a sexual relationship. This comes from the concept of back in the day when this was written, when people would travel and it would be cold at night. You've ever gone camping by yourself, it gets cold in the winter time. You go camping with somebody else and you're sharing a tent, the body heat of the two will keep things warm. Not talking about any kind of relationships, not talking about life just simply two people. Now, in our days, it's a little bit different. When people are traveling, we go to a hotel and we cut on the heat if it gets cold, we're by ourselves, or even when we're in a room with somebody. But you understand the concept, right? If two lie down, they keep warm. But how can one keep warm who is alone? Do you have a friend? Are you a friend? Couple of things I want us to take a look at. Look at verse 12. We go from warmth to protection. It says, and though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. You want to come at me? Come on. But if I got a friend with me, it's a little bit different, right? A little bit easier to whoop the other guy. But even so, not just that, it goes on to talk about a rope or cord that's got more than one strand to it, stronger with three. There's protection in friendship. Do you have a friend? Are you a friend? Take a little sidetrack for a second. That kind of concludes exactly what Solomon was talking about, but think for a second about how to be a friend. I'm not going to ask you if you have a friend. Can you be a friend? And this is some stuff I just kind of put together quickly off the internet, and these are not my ideas, but take a look at this. Can we be present when others are hurting? Not saying we have to answer all their problems, not saying we have to solve all their problems, but simply be present. We all know people who are going through things. We can all send a card, we can all write a letter. But can we just go by and say, hey, I'm just praying for you, I'm just here for you? To listen. And not listening like I do sometimes. When I'm listening, I'm also trying to solve the problem. No, I'm talking about listening, just being there quiet to carry one another's burdens. You could also, in times to be a friend, offer heartfelt encouragement and advice. Proverbs 27:9 oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Friends can give good advice. Now, in this case, we would want to keep it in context of friends who know Jesus and who walk with Jesus, who don't serve the world. Because we have to be careful in James, I believe it's James 4, 4, that talks about those who are friends with the world or enemies of God. So when I talk about being a friend and having a friend, let's make sure we have that in the context of those who are believers. Another one to look at, to speak truth even when it wounds, because wounds from a friend can be trusted. I say sometimes truth hurts. Have you ever heard that? But do you love somebody enough to be their friend, to tell them what they might want to want to hear when they're living in error or living in sin or just making a bad decision? Well, we don't like to do that, do we? We like to say things to please people, to make them happy, to make them like us. But scripture says, faithful are the wounds of a friend, profuse are the kisses of an enemy. A true friend, like I said a men ago, call a spade a spade, and it'll tell you like it is. If they're walking with Jesus, their hearts in the right place. Can we be willing to hear them to receive that? Faithful are those wounds. It's gonna hurt. You might be mad at them for a while, but the Holy Spirit can use them to get you back on the right path, following after Him. Another one. Uh avoid relationships, we're talking about friendships, avoid relationships that can entangle you in a snare. Is it true that you hang around people, sometimes you can become like them? That's kind of what we're talking about here. It says, make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor if you're a wrathful man, lest you learn from his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. That applies obviously maybe to someone who's not a believer. But don't we all know who believers who are always angry and who could pull us down? If it's true that who we're we're like, who we hang around with, let's evaluate our friends. Be a friend to all, but that true friend, allow them to be someone who can lift you up in God's word. Not want you not what you want to hear just to tick you tickle your ears to justify your actions, but to keep you in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. All right? Here's another one. Walk with the wise, not with the companion of fools. Proverbs 13, 20 says, Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffer harm. Same kind of concept. Who do we really call friends? We have acquaintances, we have friends, but true friends, I pray that they're believers who are walking with the Lord and seeking to give you godly counsel. And on the same end of that, I pray that you're walking with Jesus and you're able to be wise and to give wise counsel to those who are in need of true friendship. All right, now in the last few minutes remaining, let's turn the table just a little bit. Solomon's spoken to us about the value of true friendship. We've looked a little bit about how to be a friend. Now let's think about what Jesus says about friendship in the New Testament. Specifically, we're going to look in the book of John and John chapter 15. We'll start off with verses 13 and 14. It says, Greater love has no man than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Then verse 14, you are my friends if you do what I command you. A friend, a true friend, is going to lay down their life for you. What does that mean? Somebody's coming after Howard, I'm going to jump and take a bullet for Howard? Howard, I love you, but I don't know that I'd necessarily take a bullet for you. Now, if it was a bullet with chocolate or something I could catch and eat, that might be different, right? But a friend is going to lay down their life. Didn't Jesus do that for us? Lay down himself for us. Well, let's think about that for a second. Greater love is no man than this, he's going to lay down his life for his friends. I look at where I've lived, the places I've gone, the places I've traveled, the communities I've walked through, the slums in Brazil, the um drug-infested areas of Guatemala City. I've been in a lot more dangerous places than I realized at the time. And Jesus was going to lay down his life for me to protect me in that. I don't know. Because I've had some other friends who've been in those same situations and didn't come out alive. But let me tell you something. I hope you hear this. Moment I was born, just like you, I was born with this thing called a sin nature, this propensity to sin. I was separated from God. Yes, I grew up in church. We sang all the hymns, we we did all the things we normally do in church. But scripture taught us very well the wages of our sin is death. So even though I may not see it with my eyes, before I came to know Christ, and as I came to know him, I realized that I was heading for a life through all of eternity, separated from the Almighty God because of my sin. God is holy and He hates sin, and I'm a sinful person just like you're a sinful person. We're born that way. You don't believe me, watch your grandkids or come watch my grandkids. As cute as they are and as sweet as they can be, they've got this little thing about them and their nature that is sinful. You know it. I don't have to give you examples, you've seen it. But what did Jesus do? He knew that we could do nothing to save ourselves. Following the Ten Commandments, we couldn't do that. We can try, but we mess up. So he came to be the ultimate sacrifice for my sin and for your sins. That's why he died on the cross. Lived a holy life, taught disciples, gave us his word, died on the cross, rose again on the third day, appeared to many people, challenged his disciples, and then rose, ascended to the right hand of the Father to intervene for you and me now, for to intercede for us. So, see, Christ, an amazing friend, did something for me and for you that. Needed to be, he laid his life down for us. He goes on to say there in verse 14, you're my friends if you do what I command. Now, this don't think in a context of me and John are friends, and I say, Okay, John, you're my friend, you better do this. If you don't do this, then you're not my friend. Okay, that's manipulation. That's not true friendship. But Jesus is talking to his disciples, those who he was about to die for. By the way, this whole section that we're talking about here, this is right at the same time because they're getting ready for the Passover and they're about to observe the Lord's Supper. Okay, he says, You are my friends if you do what I command. There has to be a relationship there, a love relationship with the Father. And he calls us friends. He goes on to say in verse 15, No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends for all that I have heard from you, my father, excuse me, all that I've called you friends for all that I have heard from my father, I have made known to you. Jesus changes their titles. They're still disciples, they're still apostles, they still have their proper names. But not only are they just his servants now, they have become his friend. He shares with them, letting them know what's going on, what has taken place. Would Jesus call us a friend today? Or would he just call us an acquaintance? Would he call us an acquaintance like in Costa Rica, where you have a million acquaintances and just a few friends? Or would it be more like in Mexico where you may not have a lot of friends, but the relationship is real and deep? Didn't the scripture talk about that? About narrow path and a wide path. The wide path, a lot of people go on it, but the narrow path is the one that leads to heaven. A true friend of Christ. So just a little bit of application today. Do we understand the value of friendship? That's what Solomon talked about. You can have somebody to pick you up. And there's strength and protection. Next question: Are you a friend to others? We I ask you if you have if you have friends, but the question is also do you make yourself available to be friends to others? To love, to encourage, to listen, to bring them up during difficult times? Little song they used to sing, they'll know we are Christians by our love, right? You heard of that? Our love for one another, our friendship, our fellowship. And lastly, does Jesus call you a friend? Does he call you a friend? Does he know you? To be his friend, you have to abide in him, spend time with him, walk with him, obey him. As I mentioned, the scripture written at a time when Jesus was getting very serious with his disciples. The concern Jesus knew exactly what was about to take place. He was about to be arrested, though he was innocent. So he sits down with his disciples. They come in, he actually washes their feet, including the feet of the one who he knew was about to betray him. That's love. What did he do? He instituted what we call today is the Lord's Supper. The idea that Christ, knowing that he was about to die on the cross, knowing that his body was about to be broken in the sense that he was about to die and that his blood was going to be poured out, he wanted the disciples to understand that from the beginning, right before it took place, and asked them to continue to do the uh to continue to have the remembrance of the Lord's Supper to practice it until he returns. Now, obviously, today we don't do it exactly how they did it, because back in the day uh they did not wear coat and tie, they didn't have on boots or dress pants, they were wearing probably sandals, which they may have taken off as they came in and had their feets washed, and they had some kind of robe on. They didn't have a pretty white tablecloth. They did have a table, but it had been a lot lower to the ground, and very likely they'd have been sitting on the ground. But here's the catch the way they presented it is not so much important as the meaning of it. See what I mean by that? Okay, when Jesus did it, they had a loaf of bread and they had wine. Okay? Today we do not have an actual loaf of bread. We do sometimes, but not today. They had wine, and we're Baptists, so we don't use wine, we use grape juice, probably Welch's grape juice. But what we do remember is the significance of the fact that Christ told us to come together as believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, and he didn't say just people from New Hope Baptist Church or Northside Baptist Church or First Pres or Trinity Prez, this is for all believers to come together and observe the Lord's Supper. So as we observe the Lord's Supper today, remember or not, as long as you have Christ as your Savior, you're invited to partake in this supper with us. Now, I do would give one quick caution. As you know in Corinthians, when Paul talks about this, he does say, be careful to not take it in vain. Now, I realize it is probably 10 minutes to 12, it looks like, and you're getting hungry like I'm getting. But back in the day when they observed this, they would have an actual feast, a big meal. And the problem was they would kind of forget the spiritual part and they would enjoy the meal, having like second helpings and thirds. Or maybe having one helping but filling the plate up too much, and others wouldn't have the chance to participate. Now we take care of that today because we've got enough to give everybody one, and we're gonna pass it out in just a moment. But the spiritual part behind that is to not take it in the sense of in vain, in the sense of having some kind of sin that we're hanging on to. For them, it was a sin of almost like gluttony of just taking too much and not waiting and letting everybody be served. But we're not gonna have that problem today. We could probably serve everybody twice and have plenty. But what about the sin in our life that's not confessed? That's what Paul wants us to take care of. Because for those that didn't, they had trouble within the church when they sought to take the Lord's Supper in vain. So, right now, Heavenly Father, as we look at um your word, it's very clear that we were designed to not live in this world alone. It's clear, Father, with Solomon, that many things he saw was in vain, but yet he saw the value of true friendship and meaning and life with a brother who will help you through hard times, foreshadowing Christ, our true friend, who laid down his life for us. Thank you, Father, for sending your son to die on the cross for us, to lay down his life so that we could have a fellowship with you. I pray during this time of invitation that you would speak to our hearts, help us to make decisions that would please you. Thank you for being our friend. Help us to be a friend to you and to others. Pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. Would you please stand?