Young People's Group

Practising True Christian Friendship

by Mitchell Tan
July 07, 2017

KNOWING THAT THERE ARE FRIENDSHIPS THAT WILL NOT LAST

True Christian friendships last. They are not here today and gone tomorrow. When we build Christian friendship on Biblical principles, there would be that faithfulness to each other. The apostle Paul had his fair share of friendships that persisted and those that did not. As he wrote 2 Timothy, he wrote of those who did not continue to stand by him as his friends.

“This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”
2 Timothy 1:15

Why was it that people like Phygellus and Hermongenes turned away from Paul? The reason was that they did not like the way he served the Lord. He was so focused on serving Him that he was willing to even go to jail for it. He had an uncompromising faithfulness to God’s work that there was no allowance for any form of compromise. As such, there were those who were displeased with the way he served. Thus, they rejected him and did not continue to stand by him.

KNOWING THE EXAMPLE OF ONESIPHORUS IN GIVING TRUE FRIENDSHIP

On one hand, there was Phygellus and Hermongenes who turned their backs on Paul. On the other hand, there was Onesiphorus who was a dear and faithful friend to him. He saw Paul as an outstanding servant of the Lord and knew that he was in prison for the sake of the gospel. He saw him as one who was appointed as a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. It was for his ministry that he was incarcerated. As such, Onesiphorus sought to practise true friendship to Paul.

“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day – and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.”
2 Timothy 1:16-18

1. HAVING A CONSISTENT HEART OF LOVE FOR PAUL WHEREVER HE WAS

Timothy knew the kind of friend that Onesiphorus was to Paul. Whether it was at Rome or at Ephesus, whenever Paul was in prison, he was there to care for him. Prisoners, in those days, needed people to care for them and feed them while in prison. If not, they would likely not survive. Onesiphorus would vigorously seek him out and would serve him in whatever way he could.

2. BEING A SOURCE OF REFRESHING ENCOURAGEMENT

Onesiphorus was also a source of encouragement to Paul and he would often refresh him. He was able to minister to the heart of Paul by being there with him.

3. BEING NOT ASHAMED OF PAUL

He was not ashamed of Paul even though he was in prison. He was not afraid to be identified with him and with the testimony of Christ (2 Timothy 1:8). Paul commended Onesiphorus on his ministry to him. He in return specially prayed that the Lord’s mercy be upon Onesiphorus and his household.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Young people, it is important that we choose our friends carefully. Let’s seek to choose friends who really love the Lord and seek to serve Him faithfully. Let’s also seek to follow the example of Onesiphorus in how he loved and cared for Paul. Let’s learn to be true and faithful as dear friends.

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