Facebook friends +Twitter followers + Instagram + Phone contacts + Snapchat, Vine, etc contacts = your friend count. Wow, according to that equation I am 1,500 strong!
Let's define who these friends are since modern technology defines a friend differently than I did in high school (GO VIKINGS!).
1. Facebook friends: high school friends; college roommates; work associates from every job you ever had; anyone you ever heard of or someone you know has heard of; someone you have a friend in common with so you think you should know them --maybe you did back in the day so, just in case, you friend them.
2. Twitter followers: anyone with access to news, details, 411 that you might be interested in or opposed to.
3. Instagram: anyone you know that is still in middle or high school; friends of your children; foes of your children you think you need to be in the know about.
4. Telephone contacts: anyone that ever called you; anyone you are afraid will call you so you need to know not to answer; peeps who love to talk in emoticons via instant messenger.
5. Others that you love enough to keep up with even though they are:
a. of an older generation not interested in social media
b. anti social media
c. out of minutes and data for the month
d. friends who live so far on the back side of no where cable companies & cell towers refuse to go
Now let's talk about a deeper friendship
Some of my 1,500---from church, family, community, childhood, work, baseball & football...
6. Being a Christian Friend:
- Faithful, constant--unwavering, helps in time of stress
- Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
- Proverbs 27:10a Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family...
- Proverbs 18: 24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Merciful, kind, relentless
- Luke 11:5-8
- Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
- Inspires you to be a stronger Christian; does not encourage you to be worldly
- James 4:4
- You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
- Prays for you
- Philemon 1
- I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Ponder these thoughts and try to be a better friend to those God has allowed to cross your path during this season of life. There is no way you can be a true friend to 1,500 people but you can be a true friend to those God has chosen to surround you with the most. Now for the other 1,475, be an example for Christ, inspire them, love them, serve them as you can but don't spend so much time browsing social media you forget about those closest to you. Love you my friends!
All verses are from the New International Version of the Bible
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