Friends and Super Brothers

The legend of “Mr. Miyagi” or the “Super Mario Bros.” Fabled Friends and Super Brothers to those who know them well. These people will be remembered for ages to come. But what about you? Are you a Fabled Friend or a Super Brother?

We are taught to treat others as we would like to be treated. And it is true, we should. But what about really loving someone? Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” This truth contains two points. First, no matter what anyone is going through, if you are their friend, you will always be there for them. Understand that God sometimes separates us from friends so that we can grow closer to Him. That does not mean that you should stop being a friend! You can always lift up a friend in prayer, even if you have not seen them or talked to them for a while. Remember that prayers are timeless before the Lord, so pray away!

Second, brothers can be family related or Christ related. You know those people in your family that who just grate the nerves? Nothing you say or do matters, does not change the situation, does not appeal to them; they ignore your point of view. However, your family will see Christ through you. Your unsaved loved ones will start filling in the blanks about God through you and the way you live your life lived around them. Trust God to use you in every situation and pray! Ever had a Christian brother who irritated the beans out of you! And it seems like they enjoy doing it! Even if they have a different view of Christianity, do your best to be real with them so they can see your faults and their own. God uses people like this to mature you and vice versa. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Wounds from Christian friends seem like they hurt the most. But they also provide the opportunity to grow the most.

I cannot stress enough how important prayer is in bringing about God’s change in someone. You cannot change anybody. Sure, you can have some influence and might see a difference for a while in somebody, but God, in His sovereign time, is the only one that decides when and where that person will change. You do not know that person’s time, so be diligent in prayer and relationship with friends and brothers. Trust the Holy Spirit to move that person towards God.

Remember that friends and brothers usually go through much more than what they tell you. So do not jump to any conclusions about being right or wrong, because friends and brothers will remember that. Continually lift them up in prayer whenever they pop into your mind. Friends and brothers will remember if you were there for them when they needed somebody, so your support is another way that you can glorify God.