To be fully HUMAN — A Daily Reflection

"You are my friends if you do what I command."

Most of us are very good at being helpful.  We enjoy doing things for other people.  We enjoy meeting their needs.  But when it comes to asking for help…. well, that’s where we draw the line.  We don’t ask for help because we want the world to think we’ve got it all together.  We don’t have any problems.  We don’t have any needs.  We can handle it.

This very attitude is one of the primary qualities that cause our friendships to be shallow and one-sided.  We give and give and give, but we don’t allow others to give back.  We’ll be the first to offer to loan our lawnmower when our neighbor’s breaks, but when ours breaks, we’d rather go rent one than to ask to borrow our neighbor’s.  We think nothing of it if our neighbor is in the middle of baking and runs out of eggs.  Of course we’ll give her a couple of eggs!  But if we’re in the middle of baking and run out of eggs, we’ll let the batter spoil while we go all the way to the grocery store rather than run next door and ask to borrow a couple of eggs.

Friendships - true, deep, intimate friendships - have to involve give… and take.  We enjoy the blessings of giving.  We have to learn to enjoy the blessings of taking.  (Which, by the way, allows our friends to enjoy the blessings of giving!)  Jesus is deeply involved with you and me - and it’s a two-sided relationship.  He gives, and He takes.  We give, and we take.  Learn to pattern all of your relationships by His example.