My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off. (Psalm 38:11)
It is interesting that, through the ages, the attitudes and habits of people, both good and bad, have been pretty consistent. As we read the Bible, story after story reveals that the issues we contend with in the modern era are nothing new; people in the ancient world had to deal with the same things. Like us, David had to endure sickness, family problems, false accusations and what you and I would call “fair-weather friends” — those who are dependable in good times but who are inclined to disappear when things get tough.
There will always be those who pretend to be close friends when it is beneficial for them but who will desert you when you need them the most. Whether sickness or scandal visits your life, these people keep their distance lest what you are going through draws them in. Many sick people find that sympathy and compassion can quickly give way to estrangement simply because people grow tired of observing another person’s misery. Then there are those, like Job’s friends, who only come around to offer “friendly advise” — advise that very often sounds like accusation and condemnation. The most hurtful scenario is one in which even family members abandon you because your troubles are too much trouble for them.
Though the pain inflicted by family and those we thought were our friends can be great, it is important to remember that, though few and far between, there are those people who will stand with others through thick and thin. As the Bible says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Still, there is only so much those close friends can do but we have another friend in whom we can trust in any situation. This friend will never leave or forsake us in the worst of situations — not even when we are at our worst as a person. And so we will close with these comforting words spoken to us by our closest of friends: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:13-14).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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