I’ve always thought how neat it was for two people to come together for the first time…and something just clicks and immediately they form a clique of two. Don’t you just love the way David (famous Bible character) and Jonathan (King Saul’s son) hit it off the first time they met? The Bible tells how a person who would like to have friends should show themselves friendly. That’s exactly how the ‘Golden Rule’ works. “Here’s a simple rule-of-thumb guide for exemplary behavior: ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them” (Mt. 7:12, MSG). To have a friend, be a friend.
A friendly and virtuous person must be in fellowship and socially active with others to manifest a virtuous lifestyle and demonstrate their good intentions. And that’s where Adam failed in his manly courage. Adam sat there in total passivity, while Eve felt frightened and ashamed. She needed her husband to defend, help, and protect her; he blamed her, instead! The laws of inertia (sluggishness and passivity) will hurt, not help, when it comes to keeping close relationships. Taking the initiative in forming relationships is something we need to do. Putting others first when we’re the first to apologize or to forgive or to even confront in love.
As mature and responsible adults, we should not even think of playing the blame game. “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you dare have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you.’ when your own face is distorted by contempt?” (Mt. 7:3-4, msg). Here’s what we ought to do: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honor” (Rom. 12:10, NASV).
-John Driggers (1/15/2024, V6 #3)
