68/365: Who Has Your Back?

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24

What is better than knowing a friend who has your back? Having a friend who entrusts you to watch his back.

Life works better when someone is covering your blindside. Jesus kept a circle of watch, so should you. To have friends like that, you must be a friend like that. Got it?

GO DEEPER: Colossians 3:12-14

NEXT STEP: Does someone have your back? Whose back are you covering?

Jack

on 07/27/2023 at 06:50 PM

Been learning to cultivate a community of trusted brothers who care deeply out each other. It wasn’t until I hit the lowest points in my life that I had the humility to be open/vulnerable to let other brothers in.

Russell Oliver

on 03/13/2023 at 03:39 PM

I used to have a few close friends that were there no matter what! Then after all this COVID CONSPIRACY & SOCIAL DISTANCING: that circle fell apart, especially at church and in my neighborhood. I'm 64 with no family around, daughter married to a Marine and doesn't communicate with me or my sister down in Florida. I have other Half Siblings, but have never met them. Now I Really Don't know who has my back here in Colorado.

Greg Nickel

on 03/11/2023 at 10:52 PM

wow, I really have to find some good friends

Old Dude

on 03/10/2023 at 03:13 AM

@Boyce Moses - I agree with you. In order to develop strong relationships with other Christian men, we have to step out of our comfort zone. Of course that is easy for an extrovert like myself; however, it can be painfully difficult for those who struggle to develop relationships. LIVE BOLD brothers.

Todd

on 03/10/2023 at 01:46 AM

I think it is important to remember that even good friends may fail you and your expectations at times…….it is good to have strong, Christian friends hold you accountable and be supportive…….but they are still capable of faltering and sinning…..there is only one, true person who will NEVER fail you, and that is Jesus.

Kevin Miller

on 03/09/2023 at 09:04 PM

Having a small group is important. I have a few guys from a Celebrate Recovery group that have helped me and I am willing to help them. This life wasn’t meant to be done alone.

Brandon Pembleton

on 03/09/2023 at 06:04 PM

I am a product of the environment and circle of friends I am in. That is why I choose my friends wisely and aim to serve my friends too. Iron sharpens Iron. I want friends that will cause me to pause and reflect on what would Jesus do and what is my role in any situation. To subtly challenge me. I want to be that friend too. That offers up a perspective of hope and peace in God. I can only do that if I stay small and make sure the aim isn't me being the cool guy but God. Yes I like to use comedy and jokes all the time with friends. Father help me to hone my craft to be able to use my joking manner to also drop seeds and guide my brothers. Especially when I have no idea i am guiding. I can only do that by giving everyday to You God. So please guide me today God to be a high quality friend and council the likes that I would want in my life. I love you God amen 🙏

Ethan Rogers

on 03/09/2023 at 05:07 PM

My father had always said that if you find one; only one, good, true friend in life, you are a lucky man. How true This is. And how true it has become. I believe that the best friends you can have are the ones who share a common peril, a familiar plight as your own. They know and can relate to who you really are. Then, there are those who are passive-aggressive and practice codependency. Doing good towards you and condemning you when you don't pay them back...the score keepers. You can find out who your real friends are when it becomes a matter of you or them, if they do the right thing, instead of what gets them out of trouble, if they have your best interests over their own, this is a friend. I have friends who say they love me. Sometimes, it seems disingenuous. I remember that one can only love as much as they are capable. Or, They want to grab hold of you emotionally so they can put you on their list of resources when they need someone to bend over backward. Goodwill is one thing, giving someone a large amount of money as a loan but never expecting it returned is another. When I was probably 5 years old, I told my mother that I was going to ask Robby if he wanted to be my friend. She told me you don't ask, it just happens. If someone has to ask for help... the true friend already knows. God does put others in our lives for different reasons. Brothers and sisters in Christ. What does that mean? They know the love of Jesus and practice it in every walk of life. They

Mark Lubbock

on 03/09/2023 at 04:04 PM

Since becoming a Christian 30 years I learned the vvital need to form an intimate small group. Before that there was nobody that I shared my true inner life with. With my small group we slowly learned how to trust each other. Today, even in my darkest hour I am never alone! Jesus reaches through my brothers to support me.

kaden pope

on 03/09/2023 at 03:34 PM

I couldnt agree more with this. Finding friends like that is excruciatingly hard nowadays. If you dont find them while your young is there ever another chance too people always come and go out of my life and im sure many others. Is it possible to find that kind of friend as a teenager and if so where do i start?

Tommy Williamson

on 03/09/2023 at 03:11 PM

Unfortunately I’ve only had a couple come through my life that fit that bill. The last one was many years ago but unfortunately he got moved from our church which he pastored to another church across the country and we soon lost contact. We met every week to play racket ball, have breakfast, talk about our ups and downs, study the word and pray for each other. This went on for three years and sadly I’ve never found another to replace him because most that Zi have gotten. Lose to our schedules never matched up or they soon ended up stabbing me in the back.

Matthew Brown

on 03/09/2023 at 02:58 PM

I go to two men’s groups. One we meet for breakfast Saturday morning and the other Thursday evening to play strategy games or go out and do men stuff like archery, golf or other outdoor activities. A few of the guys go to both and we are building friendships and helping each other as we learn to be true godly men. I have always been the kind of guy who didn’t let anyone get close so never had any close friends just acquaintances but this is helping me to open up and let my guard down. I really look forward to these groups each week

Rick Donka

on 03/09/2023 at 02:09 PM

I agree with Joe and Ashley. My mens group was started because I complained to my pastor that I didnt fit in with the typical men of our church (I dont hunt or fish or play competitive sports). He got several of us together over 15 years ago and tho some have moved or left, we have a core group of 4 that have each others backs. We meet weekly to read the bible or a study, and sometimes it's only to encourage one of us who is struggling. We get together socially too and our wives appreciate it as they've seen us grow closer to Christ in our words and actions. Ask, seek, Jesus will guide you to other men and you will be blessed. Praying for y'all

Boyce Moses

on 03/09/2023 at 02:05 PM

It’s hard to have that type of brother unless we are that type of brother to others. Open up, show grace to others, be willing to get down in the scum to help them. It’s not pretty, but what it takes at times. To have that brother, be that brother. Love you Jesus! 💚💛🤎🧡

Robbie Simms

on 03/09/2023 at 01:59 PM

Good morning I pray that our encounters bring us all closer to God

Ashley Jarvis

on 03/09/2023 at 01:43 PM

Which means, we must find someone to trust who we can bare all, so we no longer are afraid others will find it. “Secrets keep us sick” is a common phrase in recovery, and it doesn’t just apply to us alcoholics and addicts. Which is why, I believe, those of us who were forced by the disease to thoroughly clean house like this, are the most blessed among us. Another paradox 😉🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

Ashley Jarvis

on 03/09/2023 at 01:42 PM

The is very real truth to this paradox that by being of service to another, they have now helped you more than you helped them. I’ve witnessed this numerous times through sponsorship in recovery and a 12 step program. My sponsor first told me that just after I thanked him for walking with me through step 1, and I looked at him as though he were crazy, “my life is the one on the line here, how could I possibly be helping you more than you have me?!”. “You’ll one day understand” he said, smiling. He was right, and I’ve now said the same thing many times, with the same result from others back to me. God places us in each others lives for a reason. God makes no mistakes, even the random encounters with strangers today, are never random. When you understand that, appreciate that, you’ll find Heaven on earth. You’ll see each person you come across as someone that needs a smile, a kind word, Grace when they’re testy with you, a smile when they flip you off… Each person, a brother or sister in Christ, and potential new “bestie”. If we look around us, and see the differences between us and others, rather than the similarities and ways we are the same, that means we still have walls up we must break down. We break them down by trusting God, rather than ourselves and our walls. If we are hesitant to let others inside and be open with them, it’s due to fear of what they may discover.

joe meyers

on 03/09/2023 at 01:01 PM

Mornin’ fellas. Im really praying for you guys that don’t have anyone that plays this role in your life right now. I would really encourage you to search for a church with a good men’s group! Ive been with mine for about 5 years now. We meet once week to drill down on the Bible and a number of us get together socially. I’m currently undergoing cancer treatment and these guys have surrounded me in love, prayer and support. I’m VERY blessed and hope and pray all you guys find this.

Jacob Dixon

on 03/09/2023 at 12:49 PM

Ya I don’t really have anyone like that. I did Joey print this verse on a canvas and put it in my office! Good verse.

David Knott

on 03/09/2023 at 12:44 PM

I always read about needing a brother, someone you can count on. Someone to hold you to the fire or watch your back. I’ve scrolled through my list of guys I work with or interact with daily/weekly, and I do not have a guy that fits that role. It’s been that way since I moved here 8 years ago.

Robert McFaddin

on 03/09/2023 at 12:03 PM

This is emphasized a lot here and I know why. We think we can do this life alone. We need our brothers. I need my brothers. Working on this. I have one guy right now. We keep in touch in between meeting with each other every few weeks.

68/365: Who Has Your Back?

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