Have you even been betrayed by someone?\u00a0 Has a person you know ever gone behind your back and brought a degree of destruction or hardship to your life?\u00a0 This is especially difficult if that person is someone you thought was your friend.\u00a0 You thought this person was loyal to you and would do whatever they could to help you, but you found out that wasn\u2019t the case.\u00a0 Instead of that person being loyal to you and solidifying that friendship day after day, they were disloyal or unfaithful to you, and now the genuineness and reality of your relationship has been made known to you and to others.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve experienced something like this, or you are experiencing something like this right now, I can honestly say that you are not alone.\u00a0 Jesus, just prior to His crucifixion, faced something exactly like I\u2019m describing and what you have experienced, or are experiencing.<\/p>\n
The author of Proverbs reminds us of this truth in Proverbs 17:17 \u201cA friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.\u201d\u00a0 At all times<\/em> \u2013 what does that imply? \u00a0A friend is loyal in the good times and in the bad times.\u00a0 It\u2019s not the circumstances that make that friend loyal, it\u2019s his\/her character, the kind of person they really are, that makes them loyal.<\/p>\n Realistically, it\u2019s the circumstances that reveal the true character of the person you call your friend.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to be a good friend when the blessings of God are pouring down and things are going well for you and your friend.\u00a0 But the real test is how you or your friend responds during times of trial or temptation.\u00a0 It\u2019s when the pressure is on and things aren\u2019t going well that prove the genuineness of your friendship.\u00a0 Knowing the effects of the curse of sin in all of our lives, problems are going to come up (they are a part of life), and problems need to be solved, or trials need to be handled, in a biblical manner.\u00a0 The reason problems can be resolved or a trial handled in a way that brings glory to God is the bond of LOVE which is the foundation for loyalty.\u00a0 This love is a choice; it\u2019s an act of the will; it\u2019s a decision to choose to sacrifice whatever is necessary to bring glory to God!<\/p>\n Nobody likes to be told, \u201cYou are wrong, and you need to change.\u201d\u00a0 But, if you are not pleasing God by thinking and acting like Christ, then someone needs to love you enough, and be loyal to you, and tell you the truth.\u00a0 A great verse to help us with this is Proverbs 27:6 \u201cFaithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.\u201d\u00a0 A real friend is a loyal friend \u2013 a friend that will confront you if you are sinning, or if your friend is not sure if what you\u2019re doing is sinful, he\/she will be loyal to you and at least ask you if what you are doing is please to God. This process is actually described in Galatians 6:1-2 \u201cBrethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n Do your friends ever confront you about your life? Are you willing to confront your friend if he\/she is sinning? If your friend is struggling through a trial or difficulty, are you going to be there for them to help them through that situation and encourage them to respond in a way that brings glory to God?<\/p>\n My friends help me the most when they offer biblical advice that helps me to grow and change to be more like Christ. Once again, Proverbs has a great verse that deals with this very subject:\u00a0 Proverbs 27:9 \u201cOil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.\u201d That counsel has to be biblical and pleasing to God, but it does make an impact.\u00a0 In fact, this verse is describing a friend who encourages others to do right <\/em>thing, not the easy thing.\u00a0 Jesus had a Judas (a disloyal and unfaithful friend).\u00a0 All the other disciples forsook Him and fled, but they did repent and showed their loyalty by giving their lives to advance the kingdom of Christ.<\/p>\nLoyalty is willing to confront areas that are wrong<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Loyalty offers biblical advice that helps<\/strong><\/h2>\n