Put God 1st, and Friends 2nd

[Hidden In Him]

Ever wonder why God said the greatest commandment was to the Love the Lord, and the second was to love others as you love yourself? We are all called to love one another, and be manifestations of the Lord to each other, for among other things it is by our love for one another that they shall know we are His disciples.

But there's a problem. I was inspired to create this thread by sadly reading some things posted by another sister about how abandoned she feels for losing the one friend she felt truly knew her. It's a sad thing, but I and others tried to encourage her that you have to put the Lord first because no matter how much people might care for you they will eventually let you down, and no matter how much you care for them you will eventually let them down too.

Been a long time fan of this band, especially back when they were still Christian. This song was written about how friends can even lead us astray spiritually if we put too much stock in them at the expense of our own relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It's heavier music, so not everyone's taste, but the point is never to put our trust in others more than God. If we do, no matter how wonderful and wise and caring they might seem to be, we short-circuit the plan of God. We are to love the Lord our Creator first, and others second. You might think you will never find a better friend, but it is the Lord who sticks closer than a brother.

As I wondered, walked along on a lazy path
I shook a hand, he seemed to know so much more
So I listened, tried my best just to understand
Then I followed to where I knew nothing of

Over the hill, come see the thrill awaiting you
There's so much more, go thru the door

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you
And don't ever think you'll see another friend
See another friend

As time went on, we were friends of a different kind
But something there always tearing apart
Standing tall on a surface of glass and rain
We travelled on with a hope and a prayer

Over the hill, come see the thrill awaiting you
There's so much more, go thru the door

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you
And don't ever think you'll find a better friend

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you
And don't ever think that I could do you wrong...

 

[thelord's_pearl]

when you put God first, He is your foundation where you establish with your family and friends, He is your direction, source

 

[Hidden In Him]

when you put God first, He is your foundation where you establish with your family and friends, He is your direction, source

Amen, Lord's Pearl.

If He is not our foundation, we are building the basis of our lives on something that unfortunately isn't sound. But once you have the foundation right, everything else you build will be solid, and even if you should lose some people out of your life for a time, if they belong to the Lord Jesus Christ then you will never truly lose them, and He will return them to you at the proper time.

 

[marks]

how abandoned she feels for losing the one friend she felt truly knew her.

I've seen how God works in these times to touch us in very deep ways. '

We may have a shallow understanding of God, having never really seen the depth of His love. In the anguish of our loss we cry out to Him, and the one who seeks Him finds Him.

When you are in affliction, you will seek me, and you will find, me, for you will search for me with all your heart.

I don't see this as failure. I see it as surgery, in the one who knows God. My sister had this testimony, "I had never known how much God loves me until I was dying of cancer." Maybe the deeper the loss, the more glorious His touch when He comes to comfort.

I believe He is working the best plan in our lives, having already known, anticipated, everything.

Much love!

 

[marks]

but the point is never to put our trust in others more than God.

We can end up learning some difficult lessons that way!

Much love!

 

[Hidden In Him]

We can end up learning some difficult lessons that way!

Much love!

Amen, brother.

 

[Mosheli]

I agree that we should put God / Jesus first before friends or anything else. But I don't agree that friends are not important. When you say friends 2nd that should mean they come next as 2nd most important (2nd commandment). It is many times harder when we are alone/isolated. We need others. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and he said as you did to the least of these so you did to me, and he said this because it is very important. Also if God/Jesus doesn't have eyes, ears, arms, legs, etc it is much harder for him to help us than if he does. And how can we believe in God when we see his christians/messianics don't care? We have 3 enemies Devil(s), others, self, and we need 3 helps God/Jesus, others, self.

As for myself I need and want to have faith in God/Jesus first but it is impossible for me to be able to have faith when stuck suffering long ongoing constant daily mean cruel hell wrongs. No matter how hard I try I can't because I am constantly being like punched in the face all day every day by these things.

Others prayers (ongoing until definite answer not just once or few times) can make a huge difference.

So yes I agree we can't put too much value in others or put them before God, but others can't put too little value in loving/caring/helping/praying/encouraging. So the 'First Love' first, but 2nd commandment 2nd. Adam had God, yet God said it is not good for man to be alone. Too many people are using things like God and medication as an excuse so that they don't have to care.

I never treat others the way others treat me, I don't blame them, I don't say go and take medication or go seek God by yourself, I try to pray (first & foremost) and try to give any help I can and try to do it with/in God/Jesus.

We can not love God and not love others.

 

[thelord's_pearl]

but the point is never to put our trust in others more than God.

true but sometimes God puts people in our lives to speak to us through Him and we have to use scripture and the Holy Spirit to discern so it's still putting God first as the source

 

[Hidden In Him]

true but sometimes God puts people in our lives to speak to us through Him and we have to use scripture and the Holy Spirit to discern so it's still putting God first as the source

Yes. I was speaking more to who we give our hearts to, first and foremost.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I agree that we should put God / Jesus first before friends or anything else. But I don't agree that friends are not important. When you say friends 2nd that should mean they come next as 2nd most important (2nd commandment). It is many times harder when we are alone/isolated. We need others. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and he said as you did to the least of these so you did to me, and he said this because it is very important. Also if God/Jesus doesn't have eyes, ears, arms, legs, etc

Certainly so, yes. And well said.

As for myself I need and want to have faith in God/Jesus first but it is impossible for me to be able to have faith when stuck suffering long ongoing constant daily mean cruel hell wrongs. No matter how hard I try I can't because I am constantly being like punched in the face all day every day by these things.

Others prayers (ongoing until definite answer not just once or few times) can make a huge difference.

This sounds rather serious. I'm not familiar with your situation. Think you could describe in more detail what your situation is?

 

[Mosheli]

This sounds rather serious. I'm not familiar with your situation. Think you could describe in more detail what your situation is?

I have to be abit careful what or how much I say, so I can only give some small examples. Just one small example is that there is a ringing sound in my flat which goes all day and night every day and night and is impossible to block out because the type/pitch of sound it is it penetrates regardless and it has been going constantly for 3-4 years now and everyone purposely refuses to cooperate to find and fix the source (which I am sure is either heat pump(s) or plumbing in neighbours flats), and it causes me major trouble so I can't study etc and have to spend all day on computer. (It is definitely not in my head or ears it is a real external sound though not easy to prove to others because its just low enough some can't hear it only listening briefly for a few minutes during the day.) This may not sound serious but it is constant all day torture and causing major trouble and threatening worse. Even when I try to pray and have faith the ringing sound is going all the time.
Another problem is the forced fluoridation every meal every day (and due to my situation I have to eat alot of grains which means I have alot higher water intake than others so I am effected alot more), which effects my mental and physical abilities and health. It is hard to have faith when being forced to eat & drink this every mouthful every meal every day, and suffer the effects/symptoms all day every day. These two examples might not sound very serious to people but they are far worse than people think.
There are also quite alot of other very bad things too. Major problems with my accomodation situation which can't be fixed due to housing crisis etc. I am also all alone 24/7, I can't get out very much, always been single in 40s, few social opportunities (no where to go to socialize even when I do get out), no friends or family, no one cares a stuff, everyone has cut me off for writing alot of "negative" emails for years begging for either people to stop the mean cruel wrongs or someone to help. And I have OCD to struggle with too. (I posted a thread on this a year or so ago here and in Ahavat Elohim.)
It is impossible for me to have faith with such long ongoing constant daily mean cruel hell wrongs and all negatives and no positives. The real constant daily hell wrongs are too big and too in my face and faith is just too small. I try but the things just keep on going the same everyday and its hard to believe God will ever answer, and thoughts go round in head like why is God so mean and cruel to force me to have to have faith for indefinite while suffering such hell (how can I have faith when he is so mean and cruel). Besides which I am certain it is partly demonic spiritual from many evidences.

 

[dev553344]

Ever wonder why God said the greatest commandment was to the Love the Lord, and the second was to love others as you love yourself? We are all called to love one another, and be manifestations of the Lord to each other, for among other things it is by our love for one another that they shall know we are His disciples.

But there's a problem. I was inspired to create this thread by sadly reading some things posted by another sister about how abandoned she feels for losing the one friend she felt truly knew her. It's a sad thing, but I and others tried to encourage her that you have to put the Lord first because no matter how much people might care for you they will eventually let you down, and no matter how much you care for them you will eventually let them down too.

Been a long time fan of this band, especially back when they were still Christian. This song was written about how friends can even lead us astray spiritually if we put too much stock in them at the expense of our own relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It's heavier music, so not everyone's taste, but the point is never to put our trust in others more than God. If we do, no matter how wonderful and wise and caring they might seem to be, we short-circuit the plan of God. We are to love the Lord our Creator first, and others second. You might think you will never find a better friend, but it is the Lord who sticks closer than a brother.

As I wondered, walked along on a lazy path
I shook a hand, he seemed to know so much more
So I listened, tried my best just to understand
Then I followed to where I knew nothing of

Over the hill, come see the thrill awaiting you
There's so much more, go thru the door

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you
And don't ever think you'll see another friend
See another friend

As time went on, we were friends of a different kind
But something there always tearing apart
Standing tall on a surface of glass and rain
We travelled on with a hope and a prayer

Over the hill, come see the thrill awaiting you
There's so much more, go thru the door

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you
And don't ever think you'll find a better friend

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you

Walk in the big parade
Learn just what to say
They will all try to fool you
Don't believe anything
I'm your everything
They will all try to fool you
And don't ever think that I could do you wrong...

I've noticed that God does spend a lot of time with me in spirit and is my best friend. I've had a lot of friends over the years and some were partying friends. Lately I've been ill and can't get out much, and the Lord has visited me often in the spirit and spoke with me on certain things. He's always uplifting and never left me even though I deserved him to leave. On Christmas each year I write him birthday cards and save them here that if he should return one day I might give them to him. It's probably silly to do, but it's how I feel about Jesus.

I guess what I'm saying is that your OP is spot on! The Lord is a true friend and we should stick with him in the hopes that one day he will resurrect us and bring us into heaven with him to share a lifetime of eternity in paradise. I watched a sermon today and taught that if we love him we should do what he instructs us to do. So that's there too, serving the poor and needy in our lives. I haven't had much opportunity lately to serve the poor and needy, just a little bit, and I miss the extra peace and love of the spirit when I did have opportunity to serve.

So now to get a little peace and love from the Holy Spirit I watch online Christian talks and that is a nice break from myself. Cheers and great thread @Hidden In Him !

 

[dev553344]

I've seen how God works in these times to touch us in very deep ways. '

We may have a shallow understanding of God, having never really seen the depth of His love. In the anguish of our loss we cry out to Him, and the one who seeks Him finds Him.

When you are in affliction, you will seek me, and you will find, me, for you will search for me with all your heart.

I don't see this as failure. I see it as surgery, in the one who knows God. My sister had this testimony, "I had never known how much God loves me until I was dying of cancer." Maybe the deeper the loss, the more glorious His touch when He comes to comfort.

I believe He is working the best plan in our lives, having already known, anticipated, everything.

Much love!

I never felt closer to God than when I was homeless and freezing from the cold. He warmed my hands and stayed above me in spirit the whole time. I hope your sister is OK @marks ! God bless!

 

[marks]

I never felt closer to God than when I was homeless and freezing from the cold. He warmed my hands and stayed above me in spirit the whole time. I hope your sister is OK @marks ! God bless!

I heard a fellow from the band Urban Rescue say something like, "It may sound weird, but there's something about that time of deepest pain, it's like I want to stay there, because the presence of God is so close, His love is so close". I was floored, I thought I was the only one who would feel that way!

Their album Wildfire, I just love it!

Much love!

 

[marks]

I never felt closer to God than when I was homeless and freezing from the cold. He warmed my hands and stayed above me in spirit the whole time. I hope your sister is OK @marks ! God bless!

Oh, and my sister is with Jesus, after learning while still in this world how much He loves us.

Much love!

 

[Truman]

A few months ago I went through a period of some of the worst migraine pain I've ever experienced.
God seemed so close. At one point it was like, in the Spirit, He was sitting on the other side of the table, talking to me man to man.
I deal with enough pain; though it's almost tempting to want it back.
It's like the good times are the bad times, and the bad times are the good times.
And then one day, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

 

[Behold]

Being a real disciple, will find you in the world but not of it.
You're not going to fit in, and you will be made to feel that you are the problem.
And the reason that happens, is because The world is Dark, Spiritual darkness, and wants it that way, and we the born again are LIGHT.
Light, possesses Heat. Heat in the Kingdom of God, is righteousness and conviction and truth.
The world wants none of this. The world wants to bathe in decadence and pretend its moral.
The world presents wrong as right, and darkness as light.

Here is something that isn't taught much, but should be...

The 1st Commandment is more important to God.
The 2nd Commandment is more important to the World.
The 1st Commandment can't be politically corrected.
The 2nd Commandment was twisted to create "social justice" "Gay rights", "political correctness", and socialism and communism.

IN REAL Christianity, God is #1, and the rest of the Commandments, are not.
In secularized Christianity, the 2nd commandment is given precedence over the 1st.

 

[marks]

I've noticed that God does spend a lot of time with me in spirit and is my best friend. I've had a lot of friends over the years and some were partying friends. Lately I've been ill and can't get out much, and the Lord has visited me often in the spirit and spoke with me on certain things. He's always uplifting and never left me even though I deserved him to leave. On Christmas each year I write him birthday cards and save them here that if he should return one day I might give them to him. It's probably silly to do, but it's how I feel about Jesus.

I don't think that's silly at all!!

I think this is the relationship Jesus wants with us! Our first and most Primary relationship.

I guess what I'm saying is that your OP is spot on! The Lord is a true friend and we should stick with him in the hopes that one day he will resurrect us and bring us into heaven with him to share a lifetime of eternity in paradise. I watched a sermon today and taught that if we love him we should do what he instructs us to do. So that's there too, serving the poor and needy in our lives. I haven't had much opportunity lately to serve the poor and needy, just a little bit, and I miss the extra peace and love of the spirit when I did have opportunity to serve.

So now to get a little peace and love from the Holy Spirit I watch online Christian talks and that is a nice break from myself. Cheers and great thread @Hidden In Him !

This is another way to know Him even more, the fellowship of serving. As we serve others in His work, we learn of Him. We learn what His love for others is like, as we do it too.

Much love!

 

[lilygrace]

I agree. For the past few years people tend to be radio noise and a distraction.
In my circle people felt they had a right to say what they think God wants while i felt the opposite or someone else felt it.
I believe God wants us to have friends but not put them above him
God wants us to not forsake the assembling of believers. This includes any Christians.
Was i putting this friend i mentioned above God? Perhaps but it's like finding a rare gem who has good insight and supports you.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I have to be abit careful what or how much I say, so I can only give some small examples. Just one small example is that there is a ringing sound in my flat which goes all day and night every day and night and is impossible to block out because the type/pitch of sound it is it penetrates regardless and it has been going constantly for 3-4 years now and everyone purposely refuses to cooperate to find and fix the source (which I am sure is either heat pump(s) or plumbing in neighbours flats), and it causes me major trouble so I can't study etc and have to spend all day on computer. (It is definitely not in my head or ears it is a real external sound though not easy to prove to others because its just low enough some can't hear it only listening briefly for a few minutes during the day.) This may not sound serious but it is constant all day torture and causing major trouble and threatening worse. Even when I try to pray and have faith the ringing sound is going all the time.
Another problem is the forced fluoridation every meal every day (and due to my situation I have to eat alot of grains which means I have alot higher water intake than others so I am effected alot more), which effects my mental and physical abilities and health. It is hard to have faith when being forced to eat & drink this every mouthful every meal every day, and suffer the effects/symptoms all day every day. These two examples might not sound very serious to people but they are far worse than people think.
There are also quite alot of other very bad things too. Major problems with my accomodation situation which can't be fixed due to housing crisis etc. I am also all alone 24/7, I can't get out very much, always been single in 40s, few social opportunities (no where to go to socialize even when I do get out), no friends or family, no one cares a stuff, everyone has cut me off for writing alot of "negative" emails for years begging for either people to stop the mean cruel wrongs or someone to help. And I have OCD to struggle with too. (I posted a thread on this a year or so ago here and in Ahavat Elohim.)
It is impossible for me to have faith with such long ongoing constant daily mean cruel hell wrongs and all negatives and no positives. The real constant daily hell wrongs are too big and too in my face and faith is just too small. I try but the things just keep on going the same everyday and its hard to believe God will ever answer, and thoughts go round in head like why is God so mean and cruel to force me to have to have faith for indefinite while suffering such hell (how can I have faith when he is so mean and cruel). Besides which I am certain it is partly demonic spiritual from many evidences.

Thank you for sharing, Mosheli. I have to confess that these sorts of issues are beyond my ability to counsel on, though I do have a friend who might be able to assess it better than I could. All I could do is pray for you, but maybe that's the best help of all.

I guess what I'm saying is that your OP is spot on! The Lord is a true friend and we should stick with him in the hopes that one day he will resurrect us and bring us into heaven with him to share a lifetime of eternity in paradise.

Agreed.