I few days ago I wrote about what I want our kids to know. In addition to teaching them that a growing relationship with Jesus is the most foundation aspect of life, I also want them to know about Jesus’ other great command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I have learned this experientially along the way the past 10 years of my life, but the foundation of how to do it came from a great teacher of mine, Howard Hendrix. This is the summation of his teaching:
- Enrich your circle of friends
- The goal is not to enlarge it, but to deepen it
- Prov 17: 17 “A friend loves at all times…”
- Prov 18:24 “…friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
- Prov 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron…”
- Become and seek out true biblical friends
- The goal is not to enlarge it, but to deepen it
Three characteristics of a true biblical friend:
a. Person who knows all about us and totally accepts us.
b. A person with whom we can share our most heretical, ridiculous ideas without being rejected.
c. A person who can confront us in the most personal areas of our life without our becoming defensive.
(the second part of his teaching on Jesus’ command to follow…)