Tuesday, May 14, 2024

As a kid in the 90s, I knew no one could sing like Eddie King, Jr., a fictional performer from the film, The Five Heartbeats. Eddie embodied David Ruffin, the troubled singer from The Temptations who met a tragic end. The movie displays the rise and fall of Eddie, who at his worst, attempts a comeback, but personal demons outshine his talent. The other members, who once called Eddie their friend, can’t stand to see him living outside his purpose.

True friendship mirrors life’s reality more than we’d like to think. It has betrayals and successes. We fight for these relationships—we sacrifice in good and bad times because that’s what friends are for. How do we learn such commitment?

I think we assign value to the strength of friendships based on how much they cost us.

John 15:13
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

This verse describes the best kind of friendship, the kind that Jesus wants for us. He not only told us to love others this way, but backed it up with his own actions, dying for all of us on the cross.

“Was the cross meant for me that my savior carried?” Jesus didn’t die to spare some; he died to save all, whether we love or reject him. It makes you wonder how the sacrifice within our friendships can compare to Jesus’ ultimate expression of love. Of course, it can’t. But Jesus doesn’t ask us to die (though, some are ready to make that sacrifice). Instead, we should look at what he sacrificed for us and model our behavior as best we can. Acts of love show the value of friendship.

In The Five Heartbeats, Choir Boy invites Eddie to church and into his life years after Eddie’s attempted comeback. Choir Boy put his reputation on the line to express how much he loved his friend, and Eddie repaid the kindness by repairing his God-given gift. The honest pain and joy we display in our lives are meant to be shared, because life is empty without the love of a friend.

Questions:
Do you recall a time a friend sacrificed something for you? Can others truly call you a friend?

Next Steps:
Text “FRIENDS” to 419-419-0707 to receive weekly texts with spiritual and practical advice to build life-giving connections. Take time out of your day to check in on a friend – maybe invite them to church or to grab lunch.

Prayer:
God, I am so grateful for the friends you have given me. I value the trust I have built through these relationships. Please guide me as I strive to be a better friend in reflection of your love. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Proverbs 17:17 ESV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Today’s post was written by Jaron Camp, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.