Devotional One: Biblical Friendship

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

FROG: Toad is that you?  TOAD: Yes, it is me. Help me.  FROG: Here give me your hand.  -A Year with Frog and Toad 

Friendship is a beautiful concept. From the beginning of creation, God knew that human beings would need to live in relationship and community. In the opening chapters of the Bible, God searches for a suitable helper for Adam from among the animals of creation. However, there is no suitable helper found for the new man. So, God creates Eve to live and work side by side with Adam (Genesis 2:20-22). Just as the Trinity has lived in all eternity in the community of Father, Son, and Spirit, humanity finds a need for relationship. 

Based upon the popular children's books by Arnold Lobel, the musical A Year with Frog and Toad explores the importance of friendship. Frog and Toad have been best friends for a long time, and their adventures together demonstrate different sides of their friendship. For example, Frog and Toad both decide to rake the leaves in each other’s yards without the other knowing as a surprise. They work diligently at their friend's yard only to have the work undone by mischievous squirrels. In the end, they both arrive home to a messy yard, but they believe their friend’s yard is beautifully raked. 

Friendship means putting the other first. This is a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us by becoming human, living a perfect life, and taking our deserved punishment upon the cross. In fact, the Scriptures speak to this idea: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Christ did this very thing for us when He saved us. He allowed His love for us to prompt Him to take our sin upon Himself and drink the cup of wrath while we drink the sweet cup of salvation. Jesus reached into our world and took our hand to save us. A Year with Frog and Toad is a picture of the love Jesus has for us. 

Repeatedly through the Bible, God gives examples of friendship and how these friendships impact both for good and for ill at times. As we journey through the next weeks, we will explore several of the friendships found in the Bible. Join us as we explore friendship in light of the power of God’s Word.