Hope On The Rise

Anthony Delaney tells the story in his book ROUGH DIAMONDS about his buddy Andy who is a missionary and he had just been donated by a supporter a nice new car, having driven around in an old messy one for many years. He pulled up outside a place where he was going to speak and a young boy sitting on a wall said, “That’s a nice car”. Andy said “my friend gave me this car”. The boy replied “I wish I could be a friend like that”. Don’t you find that phrase really challenging. Not I wish I could have a friend like that, but I wish I could be a friend like that. In a world where only 2 in 10 U.S. employees have a best friend at work according to a Gallup survey done in June 2022 that story becomes even more remarkable.
The third kind of love we are considering this month is PHILIA which is friendship love. When we think of Jesus we generally focus on the one who forgives our sins, was resurrected from the dead and promises us a place in heaven. All good theological truths that are essential to our faith. However, he also came into our world to show us how to love. He said things like love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. I no longer call you servants instead I have called you friends. Jesus is called the friend of sinners. That should put a smile on your face!
PHILIA love seeks to make friends. Jesus said to his disciples, “all people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:35).
One of the reasons I think Thessalonica was one of the healthiest churches in the New Testament is the fact that Paul commends them for being a model of loving each other in chapter 4:9-10.
The question all of us need to ask is how much effort am I spending in developing friendship love.
On a recent trip to Florida Joan and I had lunch with our 26 year old grandson Brennan and his wife Maria at the 1 2 3 Burger Place in St Augustine. Brennan ask the waitress if his friend Jordan was working that day. In a few minutes this 6’1” teenager walked over to our table and hugged Brennan. This is my friend Jordan Brennan said. I’ve known him since the 6th grade and now as a sophomore he is in a work program in High School training to be a chef as evidenced by the kitchen apron he is wearing. With a big grin on his face Jordan said Brennan is teaching me how to drive. Jordan had limited possibilities for learning to drive so he asked Brennan to teach him. The friendship energy in the room was contagious as all of us around the table high fived.
I shared that story to simply say you may not be able to give your friend a car, but you may be the one who teaches your friend to drive.
And that’s Hope on the Rise for now!