July 23, 2024 • 13 mins
In this episode of The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast, Dr. Andrew Farley explores the profound theme of biblical friendship, emphasizing that it goes far beyond shared interests or casual conversations. It's about finding that person who will stand by you in the toughest of times and encourage your personal growth. Using the remarkable friendship of David and Jonathan as an example, Dr. Farley delves into the selfless love and loyalty that existed between these two individuals. They made a covenant to support and protect each other, and their story is a testament to the depth and strength of true biblical friendship.
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Dr. Farley also highlights the friendship between Abraham and Lot, revealing the importance of unconditional kindness in biblical friendships. Despite having to part ways due to the growth of their possessions, Abraham's generosity and care for Lot are evident. This narrative showcases the trust and respect rooted in their spiritual connection. Lastly, Dr. Farley discusses Jesus' relationship with His disciples, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another through difficulties and embracing each other's imperfections. The example of Jesus and His disciples illustrates the true essence of friendship, built on mutual understanding and acceptance.
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For more encouragement in God's grace visit AndrewFarley.org.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray. A man of many companions may be ruined,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs chapter eighteen, verse twenty four. Dear Lord, I praise
you for the blessing of friendship. Without my friends, life
can sometimes seem unbearable and lonely. Help me never to
(00:24):
take for granted the incredible gift of friendship. Teach me
to be a true friend and to show love and
faithfulness to those around me. And when my friends fail me,
I thank you for your faithfulness to me. Oh, what
a privilege that you have made me a friend of
the Living God. Even more, I am your child, and
(00:45):
I am in your family. My heart is warm with gratefulness.
May I be loving and kind towards others, building on
the foundation of everlasting love you have given me in
Jesus name. Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
(01:05):
Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through prey dot
COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
It's more than having shared interests like sports or work,
and it's more than having good conversations. It's about loyalty
in hard times, and it's about pointing each other to
the Lord as the ultimate way to get our needs met.
That's biblical friendship.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
David took Jonathan's words very seriously, and the two of
them made a covenant with one another there in the field.
Jonathan promised to serve David and protect him, and David
swore to show Jonathan in his entire household love and favor.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Hi. I'm doctor Andrew Farley, and I'm excited to welcome
you to this episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
We've combed through our biblical sagas to find inspiring pictures
and overarching themes that can encourage us in our faith.
This week, we're exploring biblical relationships, and today's episode is
(02:29):
about friendship, a bond formed in the fires of adversity
and hardship. Many friendships in the Bible point us toward
Christ's perfect love, and Scripture gives us a beautiful picture
of solid biblical friendship.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault,
you who are spiritual, must restore such a one in
a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you
also aren't tempted bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. Galatians seeks one through two. To
(03:15):
him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown
from his friend, even to him who forsakes the fear
of the almighty Job six fourteen. A man of many
companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who
sticks closer than a brother, Proverbs eighteen twenty four.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
David and Jonathan are one of the best examples of
friendship in the Bible. They shared a deep bond that
enabled them to trust each other despite their different positions
in life. Jonathan yielded his own claim to the throne
and supported David with all his heart. This spoke volumes
(04:06):
about the depth of their friendship, as it could have
been uncomfortable for either one of them, but their loyalty
toward each other prevailed. Jonathan was willing to do whatever
it took to ensure David would succeed. He even confronted
his father on David's behalf. David held his promise to
(04:29):
Jonathan above any other oath or commitment in his life,
carrying it to the grave.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
David paused for a moment he felt his tears returning.
He regained his composure and stood up. You and I
have made a promise to be friends. However, if you
find any guilt in me, you should kill me yourself.
Jonathan sprang to his feet and said, nonsense. Come, let
(04:59):
us go into the field. So the two walked through
the fields. Jonathan put his arm around David and said,
I shall send word of Sal's temperament. Jonathan paused and
became very serious. Listen, God will show you favor wherever
you go. He will exalt you as king and destroy
(05:21):
all those that make you their enemy. Please show love
to my house when God removes your enemies. David took
Jonathan's words very seriously, and the two of them made
a covenant with one another there in the field. Jonathan
promised to serve David and protect him, and David swore
(05:41):
to show Jonathan in his entire household love and favor.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's more than having shared interests like sports or work,
and it's more than having good conversations. It's about loyalty
in hard times, and it's about pointing each other to
the Lord as the ultimate way to get our needs met.
That's biblical friendship. Ruth and Naomi's friendship is an example
(06:12):
of unconditional love and devotion. When Ruth's husband died, she
made the difficult decision to stay with her mother in
law instead of returning home to her own family. Although
they weren't blood relatives, Ruth remained loyal to Naomi even
through extreme hardship, proving that true friendships can transcend relationships
(06:38):
based on blood or family. Together, they struggled against poverty
and tragedy while comforting each other along the way, showing
that even when times are tough, two people can still
lean on each other for support.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Naomi's hands and looked her deep in the eyes. With
a gentle voice, Ruth said, wherever you go, I will
go also. Your people will be my people, Your God
will be my God. And wherever you die, so I
will also. Naomi's heart overflowed with gratitude, and the two
(07:21):
women ventured back to Bethlehem to Naomi's family. Ruth displayed
true devotion, friendship, and a willingness to share in the
joys and failures of life with Naomi.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Abraham and Lot's friendship is a testament to the power
of unconditional kindness. When the two men had to part
ways due to their flocks growing too large, Abraham offered
Lot an entire portion of the land before negotiating where
they would go. This act showed that Abraham was generous
(07:58):
not just with his wealth, but also with his heart
and spirit. He saw beyond any familial ties between them
and chose to make sure his nephew was taken care
of in any situation. This represented a deep trust and
respect between both men that was rooted in their spiritual connection. Eventually,
(08:24):
Lot finds himself in dire straits, and Abraham did not
hesitate to rescue him.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Abram and Lot both increased in riches and influence, so
much so that their livestock, servants, and warriors could no
longer inhabit the same land. To keep their people from
warring against one another, Abram proposed, they separate, separate from me.
If you take the left, then I will go to
the right, or if you take the right, then I
(08:59):
will go to the left. Lot took Abram up on
his generous offer and looked out at the Jordan valley
and saw that it was full of fertile plains in
the direction of Zor. The plains were watered everywhere and
reminded him of the old stories of the Garden of
Eden Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley in everything east
(09:21):
of them. He then took his flocks and servants there,
then parted with Abram and settled in the land of Sodom.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
The friendship between Jesus and his disciples exemplifies how true
friends can support each other through difficult times. Despite all
the obstacles that presented themselves, from betrayals to denials, Jesus
remained loyal to his disciples until the very end. He
(09:51):
always managed to look beyond their faults or failures, embracing
them for who they were instead of judging them from
a stakes made in the past. Jesus reached out to
those excluded by society, offering them soulless hope and healing.
He emphasized time and time again the importance of looking
(10:14):
out for one another and trusting those close to us,
no matter how difficult the journey might be, proving that
friendships should be based on love and loyalty while accepting
each other's weaknesses and imperfections.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
This is my commandment, that you love one another even
as I have loved you. Greater love has no one
than this. That someone laid down his life for his
friends you are my friends if you do whatever I
command you. No longer do I call you servants, for
(10:56):
the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I
have called you friends. For everything that I heard from
my Father I have made known to you. You didn't
choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that
you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit
should remain. That whatever you will ask of the Father
(11:18):
in my name, he may give it to you. John
fifteen twelve through.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Sixteen Proverbs says some friends are closer than blood relatives,
and that may be true with our very best friends.
But remember God is our closest friend of all. In
the rich tapestry of the New Testament we find the
(11:45):
profound declaration that were not merely servants but friends of God.
Jesus himself says in John fifteen fifteen, I no longer
call you servants, because a servant doesn't know his master's business. Instead,
I have called you friends. This is a breathtaking revelation.
(12:08):
In Christ, we are welcomed into an intimate relationship with
the creator of the universe. In James two twenty three,
Abraham was called God's friend, and we two have been
invited into this unparalleled friendship. Imagine the magnitude of that honor.
(12:29):
The benefits of this divine friendship are immeasurable. We're assured
of God's unwavering loyalty, his infinite love, and his boundless grace.
Rest in this truth. The Lord of all creation cherishes you,
values you, and desires a deep relationship with you. You are
(12:53):
truly a friend of God. Thank you for listening to
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. If you
enjoyed today's episode or learn something new about the Bible,
share it with a friend or family member, download the
pray dot Com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,
(13:15):
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org.
Let us pray. A man of many companions may be ruined,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs chapter eighteen, verse twenty four. Dear Lord, I praise
you for the blessing of friendship. Without my friends, life
can sometimes seem unbearable and lonely. Help me never to
(00:24):
take for granted the incredible gift of friendship. Teach me
to be a true friend and to show love and
faithfulness to those around me. And when my friends fail me,
I thank you for your faithfulness to me. Oh, what
a privilege that you have made me a friend of
the Living God. Even more, I am your child, and
(00:45):
I am in your family. My heart is warm with gratefulness.
May I be loving and kind towards others, building on
the foundation of everlasting love you have given me in
Jesus name. Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
(01:05):
Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through prey dot
COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith with doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
It's more than having shared interests like sports or work,
and it's more than having good conversations. It's about loyalty
in hard times, and it's about pointing each other to
the Lord as the ultimate way to get our needs met.
That's biblical friendship.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
David took Jonathan's words very seriously, and the two of
them made a covenant with one another there in the field.
Jonathan promised to serve David and protect him, and David
swore to show Jonathan in his entire household love and favor.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Hi. I'm doctor Andrew Farley, and I'm excited to welcome
you to this episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
We've combed through our biblical sagas to find inspiring pictures
and overarching themes that can encourage us in our faith.
This week, we're exploring biblical relationships, and today's episode is
(02:29):
about friendship, a bond formed in the fires of adversity
and hardship. Many friendships in the Bible point us toward
Christ's perfect love, and Scripture gives us a beautiful picture
of solid biblical friendship.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault,
you who are spiritual, must restore such a one in
a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you
also aren't tempted bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. Galatians seeks one through two. To
(03:15):
him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown
from his friend, even to him who forsakes the fear
of the almighty Job six fourteen. A man of many
companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who
sticks closer than a brother, Proverbs eighteen twenty four.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
David and Jonathan are one of the best examples of
friendship in the Bible. They shared a deep bond that
enabled them to trust each other despite their different positions
in life. Jonathan yielded his own claim to the throne
and supported David with all his heart. This spoke volumes
(04:06):
about the depth of their friendship, as it could have
been uncomfortable for either one of them, but their loyalty
toward each other prevailed. Jonathan was willing to do whatever
it took to ensure David would succeed. He even confronted
his father on David's behalf. David held his promise to
(04:29):
Jonathan above any other oath or commitment in his life,
carrying it to the grave.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
David paused for a moment he felt his tears returning.
He regained his composure and stood up. You and I
have made a promise to be friends. However, if you
find any guilt in me, you should kill me yourself.
Jonathan sprang to his feet and said, nonsense. Come, let
(04:59):
us go into the field. So the two walked through
the fields. Jonathan put his arm around David and said,
I shall send word of Sal's temperament. Jonathan paused and
became very serious. Listen, God will show you favor wherever
you go. He will exalt you as king and destroy
(05:21):
all those that make you their enemy. Please show love
to my house when God removes your enemies. David took
Jonathan's words very seriously, and the two of them made
a covenant with one another there in the field. Jonathan
promised to serve David and protect him, and David swore
(05:41):
to show Jonathan in his entire household love and favor.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's more than having shared interests like sports or work,
and it's more than having good conversations. It's about loyalty
in hard times, and it's about pointing each other to
the Lord as the ultimate way to get our needs met.
That's biblical friendship. Ruth and Naomi's friendship is an example
(06:12):
of unconditional love and devotion. When Ruth's husband died, she
made the difficult decision to stay with her mother in
law instead of returning home to her own family. Although
they weren't blood relatives, Ruth remained loyal to Naomi even
through extreme hardship, proving that true friendships can transcend relationships
(06:38):
based on blood or family. Together, they struggled against poverty
and tragedy while comforting each other along the way, showing
that even when times are tough, two people can still
lean on each other for support.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Naomi's hands and looked her deep in the eyes. With
a gentle voice, Ruth said, wherever you go, I will
go also. Your people will be my people, Your God
will be my God. And wherever you die, so I
will also. Naomi's heart overflowed with gratitude, and the two
(07:21):
women ventured back to Bethlehem to Naomi's family. Ruth displayed
true devotion, friendship, and a willingness to share in the
joys and failures of life with Naomi.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Abraham and Lot's friendship is a testament to the power
of unconditional kindness. When the two men had to part
ways due to their flocks growing too large, Abraham offered
Lot an entire portion of the land before negotiating where
they would go. This act showed that Abraham was generous
(07:58):
not just with his wealth, but also with his heart
and spirit. He saw beyond any familial ties between them
and chose to make sure his nephew was taken care
of in any situation. This represented a deep trust and
respect between both men that was rooted in their spiritual connection. Eventually,
(08:24):
Lot finds himself in dire straits, and Abraham did not
hesitate to rescue him.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Abram and Lot both increased in riches and influence, so
much so that their livestock, servants, and warriors could no
longer inhabit the same land. To keep their people from
warring against one another, Abram proposed, they separate, separate from me.
If you take the left, then I will go to
the right, or if you take the right, then I
(08:59):
will go to the left. Lot took Abram up on
his generous offer and looked out at the Jordan valley
and saw that it was full of fertile plains in
the direction of Zor. The plains were watered everywhere and
reminded him of the old stories of the Garden of
Eden Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley in everything east
(09:21):
of them. He then took his flocks and servants there,
then parted with Abram and settled in the land of Sodom.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
The friendship between Jesus and his disciples exemplifies how true
friends can support each other through difficult times. Despite all
the obstacles that presented themselves, from betrayals to denials, Jesus
remained loyal to his disciples until the very end. He
(09:51):
always managed to look beyond their faults or failures, embracing
them for who they were instead of judging them from
a stakes made in the past. Jesus reached out to
those excluded by society, offering them soulless hope and healing.
He emphasized time and time again the importance of looking
(10:14):
out for one another and trusting those close to us,
no matter how difficult the journey might be, proving that
friendships should be based on love and loyalty while accepting
each other's weaknesses and imperfections.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
This is my commandment, that you love one another even
as I have loved you. Greater love has no one
than this. That someone laid down his life for his
friends you are my friends if you do whatever I
command you. No longer do I call you servants, for
(10:56):
the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I
have called you friends. For everything that I heard from
my Father I have made known to you. You didn't
choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that
you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit
should remain. That whatever you will ask of the Father
(11:18):
in my name, he may give it to you. John
fifteen twelve through.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Sixteen Proverbs says some friends are closer than blood relatives,
and that may be true with our very best friends.
But remember God is our closest friend of all. In
the rich tapestry of the New Testament we find the
(11:45):
profound declaration that were not merely servants but friends of God.
Jesus himself says in John fifteen fifteen, I no longer
call you servants, because a servant doesn't know his master's business. Instead,
I have called you friends. This is a breathtaking revelation.
(12:08):
In Christ, we are welcomed into an intimate relationship with
the creator of the universe. In James two twenty three,
Abraham was called God's friend, and we two have been
invited into this unparalleled friendship. Imagine the magnitude of that honor.
(12:29):
The benefits of this divine friendship are immeasurable. We're assured
of God's unwavering loyalty, his infinite love, and his boundless grace.
Rest in this truth. The Lord of all creation cherishes you,
values you, and desires a deep relationship with you. You are
(12:53):
truly a friend of God. Thank you for listening to
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. If you
enjoyed today's episode or learn something new about the Bible,
share it with a friend or family member, download the
pray dot Com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,
(13:15):
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org.
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