Have you ever been in a situation where people tried to help you and they just made it worse? In fact, their advice was the last thing you needed. Family and friends love us and they want to make things better; they want to fix your problem.
Their intentions are pure. From years of experience and lots of mistakes I have learnt a few precious lessons.
If people want my advice they will ask for it. Through years of experience I have finally learnt that people don’t need my advice, they need my love.
Secondly, people need to feel secure in my friendship. It is very difficult if people perceive our friendship as conditional.
If you do what I tell you, we can be friends.
Finally, people need to be allowed to fail. Failure is often the beginning of success.
Our role model for friendship must be Jesus. He went the second mile, forgiveness and love always in his heart. There is not a sinner so bad that he cannot be forgiven. A woman caught in the act of adultery, a thief and a murderer received love. It is here where one of the most well-known verses in the Bible shines a bright light.
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Imagine if Christians were like this. Imagine if our churches were like this. Imagine if our world was exposed to this unlimited, unconditional love.
It is this friendship that changed my life and I know it can change the world. The world does not need our advice, only our love.
