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Devotions: Best friends and people

Columnists
Ever heard, “My best friend ran away with my husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend?” People suffer some of the highest forms of betrayal at the hands of “best friends.” Some people have more than one best friend depending on the occasion and mission. There is a best friend when they are going out with a married person, […]

Ever heard, “My best friend ran away with my husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend?” People suffer some of the highest forms of betrayal at the hands of “best friends.”

Some people have more than one best friend depending on the occasion and mission.

There is a best friend when they are going out with a married person, another one when going to church, another one when they are supporting same soccer team and yet another when they want to clinch a lucrative business deal.

Since best is a superlative, then we should have good and better. In this last instalment on a series on human relationships, I want to look at friends and people in general.

God and indeed all creation are relational. We need communion, neighbourliness and fellowship.

Friendship was there in the Garden of Eden and will continue to grow. Make the right choice.

Long back they used to have penpals which have been revolutionised by Facebook and other social network platforms.

People come and go. Make the best out of relationships. The proper selection of friends and correct relationship with people in general will keep you in line with your calling and purpose in life. The opposite will make your life on earth a waste.

Friendship is on two levels; firstly with God, vertical, then at human level, horizontal. With God you have to believe that He is God and He is what He says, He is, then He can also trust you.

Friendship is based on trust. Please never lose it, you may fail to regain it. James 2:23 says this of Abraham:

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

Friendship is founded on openness and transparency as Jesus revealed it to His disciples in John 15:15, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

You cannot relate well with others if you cannot with your Maker, the one you cannot lie to. Relate well with yourself.

There are people that hate themselves, have low self esteem, regret their presence on earth and resultantly are bitter and angry with everyone else.

They never see any good in other people, they are just suspicious. Free yourself from yourself. God loves you; He created you not out of mistake. Your appreciation of others is through the shade of what you make of life.

For the married ones, let your spouse be your best friend. I have witnessed the living spouse shocked to notice that he/she was not even next of kin upon death of his/her partner. You can share the same bed with your spouse, but truthfully existing miles apart.

Is it proper to have more than one best friend and none of them knows who you really are? Friendship should form part of your accountability system. Choose friends that aid you on the journey of life.

They are not just your praise singers, but can question your decisions. They are not people that you want to milk money from, but who complete the jigsaw puzzle of your life.

They may even be less fortunate than you, but have the expertise, anointing and clarity of vision. They are people that will pull you up and clean up your mess without publicising it.

There are people that will go to town telling the whole world that they are the ones that made you who you are.

We pray and ask God for open doors. Did you know that these doors are people? Never despise anyone that comes in your life. Ask God for spirit of discernment.

The writer of Hebrews knew about it and he said in 13:1, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Let your inner eyes see who brings good tidings and who means to hurt.

God brings people for a season and specific reason, don’t cry when they say goodbye. Don’t waste each other’s time by forcing yourself to stick together when you have already gone past best before.

Parasites suck your blood until it is finished then they pack their bags. In the meantime they tell you how good you are and that they never would be without you. In love you have to be bold enough and separate.

There are people that are good in their own right, but are not going where you are going. I ask those that are bothering you to leave in Jesus’ name.