When Friends Let Us Down
2 Timothy 4:9-18
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
The apostle Paul knew the value of having good friends. Barnabas encouraged him in his ministry, Silas partnered with him in building up churches, and Timothy became like a son to him. But, as we see in today’s passage, Paul also knew the heartache of co-laborers turning away from him when times got tough. We may experience something similar in our life.
Friends may have varied reactions to our struggles. Some hold back because they feel inadequate to help. Others are indifferent to our situation and don’t care enough to get involved. But the most difficult reaction to encounter is a friend turning away from us. In my early days as a minister, this happened to me. The church was going through a period of turmoil, and only one deacon and one member reached out to support me; the others stood back. The biggest hurt was even from one I considered my best friend, yet she didn’t communicate with me during this time. This experience taught me the importance of responding in a godly fashion.
When friends abandoned him, Paul asked God not to count their actions against them. He was following the example of Jesus, who prayed for the Father to forgive His persecutors (Luke 23:34). What’s your response when friends let you down? Though it is not always easy, forgiveness is the choice that pleases God every time.
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