Jesus The Friend of Sinners

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Brotherhood (fraternity) and Friendship

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (17:17)

The above words of the wise king, Solomon, relative to friendship and brotherhood, draw our meditation and reflection.

Can you imagine a world, a family, a community where there is very little brotherhood and friendship? It is always a sad thing to see - a loner without family and friends - a person who has no one to lean on or with whom he may share life and its experiences.

Our friends and family are important assets in our lives. What would we do without them? Yet, as Solomon said, one of the reasons why so many do not have friends and more brotherhood shown to them, is due to the fact that they show so little friendship and fraternity to others. You "reap what you sow."

Sow "seeds of kindness," like the song goes, and you will reap much kindness. Be "friendly" and you will find people being friendly to you.

Notice these words:

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Rom. 12:10)

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (I Thess. 4:9)

"Let brotherly love continue." (Heb. 13:1)

Abraham certainly showed this kind affection, this brotherly love, when there was strife between his and Lot's employees.

"And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." (Gen. 13: 8,9)

Abraham did not "prefer" himself, but "preferred" to Lot. No selfishness here. He had been "taught of God" to show friendship and brotherly love and to "deny himself," and to give to others.

In the scriptures, Jesus is known as the "friend of sinners." (Matt. 11:19 & Luke 7:34) This does not mean that he was himself a sinner and enjoyed the company of sinners as sinners. He is not called "friend of sinners" because he enjoys sin, no, no, a thousand times no! Rather, he is called such because he is one who cares for the sinner, one who seeks to rescue and be a friend to the sinner. We are not being "friends" to sinners when we are with them to encourage them in their sins. We are friends to sinners when we are willing to go the second mile to help them out.

We show we do not care for others when we are not willing to witness to them about their condition in sin, their standing before God. A true friend is one who will be brutally honest with his friends.

The Bible speaks much about "The friendship of the world" versus the friendship of Christ and his people.

"Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God?" (James 4:4)

Which would you rather be? The "friend of the world" or the "friend of God," as Abraham was called? (James 2:23) You cannot be both. If you will be the friend of God you will have to be an enemy to the wicked world.

Oh there is no better friend than Jesus! Ask those who are his friends! They will tell you this! He is the best friend! It is so sad that men will choose the world as their friends and remain the enemies of God and Christ! Yet the world will "let you down" as a friend. Jesus never will!

Do you want to be his "friend" today? Are you wanting to know the joys of true brotherhood and friendship? Then come to Christ, and join his company of friends and brothers! You will not be disappointed.