It is so important that we recognize our need for close friends.

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

During His ministry, Jesus had many friends and many people that He was friendly to. Yet Jesus was only very close to a few people. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were three of Jesus’ closest friends on this earth. This family of brother and sisters lived just outside of Jerusalem in the town of Bethany. Jesus would often stay with them on His journeys into the city. He became very close to them. You may all remember the story in this scripture…Mary and Martha heard that Jesus was coming. Martha immediately dropped everything that she was doing and began to prepare the house and the food and all of the things that are necessary to host a guest. Instead of helping her sister, Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus to hear His word and to fellowship with Him. This so upset Martha that she went to Jesus and vented her feelings on Him. Jesus responded and said, “Martha, you are so upset about this, don’t you understand that what your sister has chosen to do is a needful thing!” What was this needful thing that Jesus was referring to? It was the communing together of close friends!

Jesus needed this and so did Martha. In fact what stands out to me about his story is what Martha was doing was also a needful thing. What host would not clean the house, prepare the food and make sure everything was in order? That was important. Yet Jesus made it very clear that a special time of sharing between friends was much more important than hosting a guest! You must find time, you must make time to spend with your closest friends. Even at the cost of neglecting something important! I call this ‘planned neglect’. Make plans to neglect some things so you can spend some quality time with friends. It has to happen, it is of outmost importance!

Jesus was never afraid to do this. Think of all the times that He purposely pulled Peter, James and John aside from the other disciples. Jesus needed somebody He could share His dreams and His passions with. These are the ones He took up to a high mountain so they could see Him transfigured before them. He was revealing Himself to them as He did to nobody else in the world. When they came down off the mountain, Jesus said, “Don’t share these things to anybody!” In other words, “I trust you as one of my closest friends.” Just as Jesus needed someone very close to Him to share these things with, we need the same. We need our trusted friends. Listen to what Jesus said….

John 15:15

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

It is not wise to share our dreams and passions with everybody, but we must be able to share them. There will be only a few people in your life that you will be able to do this with. It is important that you find those people. We must be able to communicate our heart to somebody who is always going to be there when we need them.

Often it is our closest friends who are the difference between us succeeding or failing in our calling. They are sometimes the only ones who can relate to our dreams. Our friends are the ones who feel for us. They watch out for us. They have experience with us. They have common interests. They cry when we cry and laugh when we laugh. That kind of fellowship is invaluable and irreplaceable.  David had that kind of relationship with Jonathan, and he probably would have never succeeded without that fellowship. The bible says that their souls were knit together. (1 Samuel 18:1) Find the time to fellowship with your closest friends, this is a needful thing, and it will make a huge difference in your life.