Is there anyone in your circle of friends or family you consider to be your BFF? If so, consider yourself fortunate and blessed. BFFs are few in numbers, but they are persons to be cherished and appreciated for eternity. A BFF is an initialism of the phrase best friend(s) forever. It is a term of endearment used for persons who are very special and very dear to you.
A BFF may be a family member, friend, sibling, colleague, spouse, partner, etc. Whoever that significant person is, let them know periodically that they are an integral part of your well-being.
There are occasions when I witness persons using this acronym too lightly and too loosely. A BFF relationship cannot be forged and built in one day. It takes time to establish a bond of friendship so strong that you can trust a person with your most valuable possessions. A BFF will stick with you in good times and difficult times. It is good to have a whimsical person in your life, but also one who knows how to get down to business when necessary.
Aren’t you appreciative to have a person close enough to you to tell you what you need to hear and not necessarily what we want to hear. It is good to be able to agree to disagree with someone without feelings being damaged or hurt. If you wish to test the strength of your BFF relationship, let something tragic happen in your life and you need the BFF to provide care and support. You may be amazed at the response if it is a true BFF. On the other hand, you may be disappointed because of the change in behavior and presence. This can be a time of brokenness and disappointment. You may look at it from the vantage point of rejoicing that you thought you had a BFF, but in reality, you had a foe.
The Bible reveals that the relationship between Jesus and John may be considered BFFs. Along with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, John is described as one Jesus loved (John 11:3,5}. John has a special position of honor and closeness at the table of the Last Supper. Remember, it was John who stood at the foot of the cross when all the other disciples had scattered.
Two other biblical characters who were BFFs are Elijah and Elisha. The prophet Elijah and Elisha were inseparable. When the time for Elijah to move on to the next town, he told his servant Elisha to remain behind, but he refused to do so. In 2 Kings 2:2, you find these words: “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied. Elijah instructed Elisha on two other occasions to remain behind, but again he refused to separate himself from his mentor. If Elisha had remained behind, he would have missed out on the miracles we witness in 2 Kings 2: 7-12.
The story of Ruth and Naomi is one that proves to be one of loyalty and love. In the most heart-wrenching time of her life, she found the BFF she needed in her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi’s husband has died and within ten years, her two sons die {Ruth 1:3-5}. In a state of desperation, Naomi left her homeland and went to Judah, “where she heard the Lord had come to the aid of His people” (Ruth 1:6-7}. The Bible says that when Naomi sent her daughters-in-law back to their mother’s home, Ruth clung to her {Ruth 1:8-14}.
There are other instances in the Bible of true BFFs: Paul and Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6-7), Mark and Paul (Acts 15: 39-40), Moses and Aaron (Exodus 4:14-16), Abraham and Lot (Genesis 13:8) to name a few.
It is a wonderful thing to have a BFF that you can confide in and depend on. But there is not a greater friendship than the one between Jesus and you. For He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). There is no greater love or friendship than one who is willing to give his life for all of us. He is our everything that can be summed up in John 14:6, Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
There is great joy in knowing there is a friend out there somewhere that is like a brother or sister. It could be that your BFF is your brother or sister. Don’t take your BFF relationship for granted, rather continue to cultivate it.
Not a sermon, just my thoughts!
Robert Earl Slade, Pastor
