Critical Responses:  Lessons from the Life of David

RESPONDING TO THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FRIENDSHIP

(1) Thou shalt not limit your friendships to others just like yourself.  Rather, thou shalt seek relationships that overcome differences.

(2) Thou shalt not consider a friendship to be a disposable commodity.  Rather, thou shalt treasure it as a gift from God.

(3) Thou shalt not value thine own exaltation above all else.  Rather, thou shalt count it all joy to contribute to a friend’s success.

(4) Thou shalt not abandon a friend in time of need.  Rather, thou shalt find strength by facing trials together.

(5) Thou shalt not allow others to berate your friend in your presence.  Rather, thou shalt exalt their reputation as much as honesty allows.

(6) Thou shalt not hide thy affection.  Rather, thou shalt celebrate true friendship with fervor.

(7) Thou shalt not speak only the words thy friend wants to hear.  Rather, thou shalt value the honest over the easy.

(8) Thou shalt not treasure the company of a friend over their well-being.  Rather, thou shalt be sensitive to allow a new stage of friendship to evolve.

(9) Thou shalt not break a promise, spoken or unspoken.  Rather, thou shalt be loyal and true to the end.

(10) Thou shalt not expect a friendship to be without pain.  Rather, thou shalt appreciate that it was worth it.

BONUS:  Thou shalt grow in understanding the friendship of God toward His children, and thou shalt model thy earthly friendships after the loving-kindness displayed by Jesus Christ.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13