By Wayne Clapp – Emeritus Pastor
This article is adapted from the November 2023 Encourager, and it is one of the last writings Rev. Clapp completed before he passed away. Part 1 discusses important qualities of a friend and how the Lord Jesus Christ emulates those.
The 14 uses of “friend” in Proverbs show that there are two kinds of “friends.” One is the friend who exists because you have something to offer such as a material gift or some other benefit of association.
The other friend exists due to genuine love and is like an extension of your own soul.
Proverbs 18:24 offers a contrast between the two.
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 KJV
We can amass as many friends of the first type as we want but still come to ruin; however, even one friend of the second type is a great advantage.
Genuine, authentic friends can be counted on. They are steadfast, trustworthy and will be there for us, at times even more reliably than that of a family member.
Our friendship with Christ can be that way. He proves to us that he will not deceive us, convincing us that we can unreservedly put our confidence in him. Christ’s faithful and fathomless love assures us that it’s impossible for any cause to arise which could make him love us less.
Is it not written prophetically of Judas in Psalms 41:9?
“Even my close friend [a foreshadowing of Judas], whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalms 41:9 KJV
Yet in Matthew 26:50 when Judas acts as guide to them that took Jesus, Jesus greets Judas saying, “Friend, do what you came to do” (ESV).
Jesus remained the consummate friend. Right to the end, Jesus held out the possibility of friendship between himself and his betrayer, but Judas rejected the opportunity.
What Kind of Friend will You be?
Everyone one of us has the opportunity to receive or reject his friendship. What will we choose?
Do we want a friend who’ll never let us down, never disappoint, fail, or give up on us? Do we want a friend who’ll never tire of us?
Jesus Christ wants to be the dearest friend we could ever have, and he has the wisdom and ability to see us through the most difficult situations.
Oh, the wonder of the intimacy to which he invites us!
The Salt Covenant
In Eastern culture, a host would not normally eat with a guest. He would prepare and serve the guest food, but would only eat with them if they were family or the most intimate of friends.
Because so much of the food was prepared and preserved with salt, eating salted food together involved entering into a salt covenant.
That is why Revelation 3:20 uses eating together to show the closeness of the relationship that the Lord wants to have with us. He wants to be part of our lives in a most intimate way.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 NKJV
Image by Secret Sinai
The salt covenant dates back to antiquity and was a most solemn and binding agreement.
One would never break a salt covenant. The consequences for doing so was death.
With this understanding one can see why Judas, refusing to accept Jesus’ offer to tarry in Jerusalem and be endued with power from on high under a salt covenant, would go out and kill himself.
Indeed, in Acts 1:4 Jesus took salt with all the apostles.
“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”” Acts 1:4 NIV
He guaranteed and bound his friendship with them with a covenant of salt which he will never break.
Jesus has extended the same invitation to us. Let’s not let it slip away. He has promised, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
Let’s enjoy his friendship.
A recording of his celebration of life, sharing how much he loved Jesus and his people, is available on CFFM’s Live Streams.