The word companion comes to us from Latin – com: with + panis: bread. It literally means “one who eats of the same bread.” In a modern definition we would also say it means a person who associates with or accompanies another or others; associate or comrade. As we direct our minds toward dads on this special day to honor our fathers, we can think of three companions a man needs in his journey through life. First of all a man needs:
I. A Companion for Light
"I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts" (Psalm 119:63). God is telling us we need the company of someone who fears God and who not only honors but obeys the Word of God. The Bible says, "The entrance of thy words giveth light..." (Psalm 119:130). In I John 1:7 we discover, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin."
The fellowship with other dedicated believers provides light for the journey. Last night I crossed our bedroom to extinguish the only light that was on in the room. Upon turning off the soft, emanating rays I found myself plunged into total darkness. I tried to remember where the furniture and other obstructions were as I navigated across the floor. I softly stepped, hoping I was staying quiet so I wound not awaken my wife. However, I fear it was of no avail because I tripped and fell on my backside. I smiled as I crawled the rest of the way, thinking I had accomplished nothing but self-sabotage. A very simple friend would have prevented the whole episode. My little friend was sitting on my night-stand - my faithful flashlight. Had I had it with me I would not have fallen. Sometimes through life we will find ourselves inviting sins and weights (Hebrews 12:1) into our life and bringing us into darkness. This is when we need a faithful friend, who loves the Lord and will illuminate our path until we come back into the light. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6).
I. A Companion for Labor
"Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants" (Philippians 2:25). When our Lord first sent His disciples out, He did so by twos (Mark 6:7). The wise man Solomon said, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10).
When we read of the martyrs of old, we are aware that the companionship that carried them through the hard times. One of the most well known martyrdoms was the burning at the stake of Latimer and Ridley for the faith of Christ in England several centuries ago. They encouraged one another, especially at the moment of death. As the enemies of Christ touched the fire to the wood below Latimer’s body, the saintly Hugh Latimer said to his friend, “Play the man, Ridley, play the man!” In our last Deacon’s meeting Todd Montgomery challenged us to encourage one another. Even though we have not suffered like those ancient martyrs, we all benefit from a word of encouragement. We all need a lift from time to time which helps us in our labor for our Lord. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).
II. A Companion for Life
"And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth" (Malachi 2:15). The word “treacherously” means unfaithfully or deceitfully. God tells the man to be true to his wife. God tells us why the wife is so important to the husband in the previous verse: "Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant" (Malachi 2:14). God says she is the companion! I emphasize the companion, because in life she is the most important person in a man’s life. When a man marries a woman they become one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4, 5). A wife by Divine distinction is so close to her husband that she is the primary companion for light and labor as well as for life.
The late evangelist Fred Brown was not only a wonderful preacher of the Gospel; he was a great family man. After his wife passed away, although she preceded him by a few years, he never remarried. Dr. Brown was confronted by some of his old friends about the possibilities of remarriage and I love the answer he gave them: “Boys, when you’ve been married to the queen all your life, you cannot settle for a chamber maid.” What was Dr. Brown saying? He was verifying that Mrs., Brown was so much more than a spouse; she was his soul-mate, his love, his companion.
Personally speaking, I have no better friend than Barbara Pope. She is truly my companion for life. She is the one I wish “to eat bread with” for the rest of my life. As a matter fact, she is the one I want to eat Blue Bell ice cream with for the rest of my life. The one aspect of Christchurch is that, as a rule, the married couples are true companions. May God keep it that way!
- Pastor Pope -