How You Can Be True Friend?

You na ever face problem and you feel that nobody there to help you? We living in “critical times hard to deal with” that can make us feel discourage and lonely. (2 Tim. 3:1) But we not need to face our problem dem on our own. The Bible say that it important to get true friends in “times of distress.”—Prov. 17:17.

HOW TRUE FRIENDS CAN HELP US?

Paul travel with some of his friend dem on his missionary trip and they really help him. (Col. 4:​7-11) When Paul wor in jail in Rome, his friend dem help him to do some thing dem that he wor not able to do. For example, when the brothers and sisters in Philippi sent some thing dem for Paul, Epaphroditus carry it to him. (Phil. 4:18) Tychicus carry Paul letters to the different-different congregation dem. (Col. 4:7; see study note.) Because his friend dem help him, Paul continue his ministry even though he wor in jail or under house arrest. How you can be true friend today?

We get plenty brothers and sisters today who na show how true friend can help each other. One regular pioneer sister from Spain name Elisabet, explain how one sister help her when she wor going through problem. The doctor say Elisabet ma wor having cancer, so the sister use to send her plenty encouraging text message from the Bible. Elisabet say, “This text message dem really encourage me to go through the day without feeling that I by myself.”—Prov. 18:24.

We can get strong friendship with our brothers and sisters by helping them to do some thing dem for Jehovah. For example, maybe you can help to carry one older brother or sister to the meeting or in the field service. If you do it, yor will enjoy encouraging each other. But some brother and sister dem not able to move from their house. How we can be true friend to them? (Rom. 1:12)

BE TRUE FRIEND TO PEOPLE WHO NOT ABLE TO MOVE FROM THEIR HOUSE

Because of sickness or other problems, some of our brother and sister dem not able to attend meeting in person. That what happen to one brother name David, who wor suffering from some kindna cancer they call lymphoma. For more than six months, he wor going for cancer treatment. When he wor taking this treatment, David and his wife Lidia, use the internet to join the meetings from their house.

How the brothers and sisters help them? After the meeting, some brothers and sisters from the Kingdom Hall use to talk with David and Lidia through video call. Beside that, when David and Lidia make comments, they use to send them text message to encourage them. What wor the result? David and Lidia wor not feeling too lonely.

You think you can make plan to preach with our brothers and sisters who not able to move from their house? Maybe you can make some adjustments to show that you not forget about them. (Prov. 3:27) You can plan to do letter writing or telephone witnessing with them. The elder dem can also help them to join the meeting for field service through video call. David and Lidia wor happy for this arrangement. David say, “Just being with our brother and sister dem for that short time really encourage us.” From time to time, you can ask the brother or sister who not able to move from their house whether you can carry your Bible student there for yor to do the study together.

When we work with our brothers and sisters who not able to move from their house, we can get to know them and their good-good qualities. And this one can make us to get more close to them. For example, when yor preaching together and you see how they use the Bible to touch somebody heart, it can make you to want be more close to them. When you help your brother and sister dem to work for Jehovah, it will help you to make new friends.—2 Cor. 6:13.

When Paul wor in problem, his friend Titus went to see him and it comfort him. (2 Cor. 7:​5-7) It good to say things that will encourage our brother and sister dem when they going through problem. But Titus example teach us that we can also comfort them by spending time with them and doing things to help them.—1 John 3:18.

BE TRUE FRIEND DURING PERSECUTION

Our brother and sister dem in Russia na set good example when it come to helping each other. Let see what happen to Sergey and his wife Tatyana. After the police people search their house, they carry them to the police station to ask them question. They free Tatyana first and she went back home. Sergey say: “By the time [Tatyana] reach to the house, one brave sister went there to visit them. It not stay long, some brothers and sisters came to help us clean our house and pack our thing dem back.”

Sergey also say: “I always like Proverbs 17:17 that say: ‘A true friend shows love at all times and is a brother who is born for times of distress.’ But I na see for myself that what this scripture say that true, especially during this time of persecution that I need my brothers and sisters. Jehovah na give me friend dem who brave to help me.”a

Now-now when we going through problem, we need our friend dem to help us. And during the great tribulation we will even need them more. So, let continue to try our best to be true friend now-now!—1 Pet. 4:​7, 8.