Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
— John 15:13
A 10-year-old boy was picking through a bucket of dirt near a commercial gem mine in North Carolina when he found an interesting rock. He liked the shape of it, so he took it home and showed it to his parents. After they took it to a gemologist, the rock was discovered to be a 1,061-carat sapphire worth more than $35,000.
Quite often, things that might not appear to have worth can actually carry tremendous value. You’ve probably put a jacket or coat on simply because it was cold, only to reach in the pocket to discover a $20 bill you left in it several months ago. That which had a small perceived value at first ended up giving you more than you realized.
The same is true in our everyday relationships with others. It’s easy to take friends for granted, assuming they’re just going to be there the next time you call or visit them. But the truth is that those relationships should be deeply treasured because our life here on earth is temporary.
So as you think about your friends and family with whom you’ve built relationships, remember what they really mean to you and express that to them. Understand the value of a faithful friend and don’t take a moment with them for granted!
Prayer Challenge
Thank God for the friends in your life. Pray you’d never take them for granted.
Questions for Thought
Why do you think it’s so easy to take good friends for granted?
Who are some friends in your life today to whom you can express thankfulness for your relationship with them?