This subject of friendship keeps coming up this week in my books, scripture, and even at Redeemer. It’s…nice to hear.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Synergism (n) - The idea that two people working together can accomplish more than the same two people working by themselves.
Evidences of spiritual syngergism in the New Testament:
- Friends should admonish one another
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16) - Friends should encourage one another
“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13) - Friends should feel comfortable and engage in sharing their most shameful problems/shortcomings (sins)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16) - Friends should bear each other’s burdens
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) - Friends should pray for each other
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
We need at least one other person of like heart to pray with us, encourage us, and, if necessary, admonish us. This person must be someone who is also involved in the struggle to mortify sin in his or her own life, so that he ot she can enter into our struggles and not be scandalized by the nature of our deepest sins. It is said that the Puritans used to ask God for one “bosom friend” with whom they could share absolutely everything. This is the type of friend we should also pray for and seek out to help us in our struggle to mortify sin in our lives.
Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace
It’s interesting being back at home: having the opportunity to see my old comrades and how they’ve changed, or perhaps how they haven’t changed at all. Working in Rockefeller Center has been another interesting experience as well. I get to people-watch as I walk the streets and ride the subways of the city.
My thoughts tick along as I watch couples go by hand-in-hand, eavesdrop on friends arguing, observe the tourists converse in unfamiliar tongues, and examine the lights and billboards since I’m an artist after all. It really fills one’s mind up just thinking about people…thinking about what we strive for. If you’re holding up a cardboard sign..then instead, wondering what you truly hunger for. What brings you dignity? What brings me dignity? Am I even entitled to any dignity? Where did I get this sense of entitlement from!?
And then I miss my chance to cross the street.
So many people in this big city. So many bodies moving around so close together, with the biggest fear in everyone’s eyes and hearts to look around. I hand off a $5 foot-long sub to an absolutely downcast, dirty girl with a cardboard sign that could break any man’s heart and I am completely petrified of engaging in any type of conversation with her deeper than “Interested in a late lunch? Okay, bye!”
And I’m back to worrying about my image at the office. There’s so much going on in this city and at the same time nothing at all. Even at home, there are so many people I know in my vicinity, but the phone calls outside are hollow. Scripture has my answers in there, somewhere.
