EMBRACE YOUR TRIBE
Let me tell you something about elephants. Elephants are very intelligent animals who develop intimate bonds between family and friends for life. They make lifetime friends and are very empathetic and caring for one another. They mourn the loss of a loved one, and they grieve over elephants that don’t survive. They also have excellent memory skills and don’t forget long term relationships. Another point of interest is that they have thick skin. Because of all of this they form strong bonds for life.
When the female elephant is giving birth, all the other females gather in a circle around her. They back in and close the ranks so that the delivering mother cannot be seen. They will stomp and kick up dirt and soil to throw attackers off. This sends the clear signal for predators to back off. When the baby is born the female elephants kick sand on the baby to protect its skin and also sound their trumpets.
Wow! Who wouldn’t want to be friends with an elephant?
This is just what we need. We need to EMBRACE OUR TRIBE. When our friends are vulnerable, when they are under attack, when they are fearful, when they are scared, when they are unsure when they are starting something new, when they have just lost all get-up and go, we need to back in, circle around them and protect them. We should bring them our thick skin and get into the formation that embraces them with love. Isn’t this what our tribes are for?
God didn’t intend for us to alone. We were designed to have relationships. Throughout the Bible, you can see friendships develop. Friendships fill in the gaps where there is a void. The first friendship that is the most important is the relationship that with have with Christ.
Matthew 6:33 New International Version (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Seek Him first! This means to go to Christ first instead of the worldly things.
Why? Christ is the example of friendship. Friendship is a relationship. He laid down His life for us. Christ exhibited the attributes that friends should be.
When we seek Him first, we are handing all of our problems over to Him. He can handle them. Things of the world can quickly become a priority, but when we go to Him first making Christ a priority filling our thoughts with that which is true, He leads us to peace.
Christ also will give us constructive criticism and isn’t afraid to point out what we are doing that isn’t Christ-like.
After giving everything to Christ first then we turn to our Christian friends. Let me emphasize Christian friends. These are the people that surround you, love you, protect you. When you are down and out, they back in encircling you. They protect you. When you feel you can’t take another step, they lift you up and help you dust off. They have thick skin so they can take the heat. They sound their trumpets when the worldly chaotic noise needs to be deafened, and they rejoice with you when there is a breakthrough.
Let’s look at others in the Bible who had a tribe.
Moses was instructed by God to speak to Pharaoh. Moses felt he was lacking in this area, but God had given Aaron the talent of speaking. Moses and Aaron knew their strengths and their weaknesses. They complemented each other. Excellent quality of a friend.
Psychologists say for a friendship to thrive you must have three essential traits. These being love, loyalty and emotional openness. This is the relationship that David and Jonathan possessed.
Elijah and Elisha’s friendship is the example of choosing your friends wisely. We should gather a tribe of friends who are wise Christian passionate people. Elisha sought a mentor and a friend who would help him do his job for Jesus. He found that relationship in Elijah.
Ruth made a sacrifice out of love and loyalty to stay with her mother in law Naomi after her husband passed. Many women would have left their mother in law but not Ruth. Ruth didn’t hesitate when making her decision.
True Christian friends can be challenging to find. When you find them, they are priceless. In an article written by Kelly Needham, she wrote about Christian friends. I couldn’t have said it any better.
They stick closer than family and often know you better. They pray bigger things for you than you pray for yourself. They believe with you when your faith is weak. They make space for you when life falls apart, and they rejoice with you when all is well. Most importantly, true friends remind you in every encounter who and what is most important.
Our tribe doesn’t compete with Christ they embrace Him. They keep us accountable, bringing us to His word and reminding us who to seek first. They encourage us and are never negative. When we are tired, they lift us with words from Christ.
Embrace Your Tribe!
CHALLENGES OF THE WEEK:
- Keep your daily appointment
- Dive deep into His word
- Seek out Christian friends to become your tribe, pray to God about them
- Fill your cup so you can fill others
True Friends are Hard to Find, Kelly Needham
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/true-friends-are-hard-to-find
The 5 Greatest Friendships of the Bible
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/5-greatest-friendships-of-the-bible.aspx?
Elephants for Africa
Leave a Reply