The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-07-21
Women Friends
Lesson for July q, 1861

It is a big mistake to suppose
that a man cannot make friends
with a woman without getting
tangled up in romance. Too
many good men have had long
trusted women friends who never
wanted romance. A prime illus
traton is in the story Of Jesus.
Our Lord seemed remarkable to
his contemporaries in many
ways, and among these was the
fact that although a teacher of
religion. he did not hesitate to
make friends of women as well
as men. The official teachers Of
religion, the Pharisees, leaned
over backward never to be
friendly with women. Some Of
them were even called BLEED
ing Pharisees," getting their
foreheads banged up by running
into trees and poles with their
eyes shut tight for fear Of seeing
a woman!
He Gave Them Time
Jesus. let it be said again,
never was "entanQled" with any
woman. His worst enemies
would have liked, no doubt. to
smear his reputation but he never
gave them the least chance. But
Jesus did have some warm
friends who we're WON e n,
among these the best known
to us being Mary, and Martha of
Bethany. He never brought them
flowers nor any usual presents.
Yet he did give them what
friends always desire, and so
made his friendship with these
two women a kind of model for
friends everywhere and always.
First of all. he gave them time.
He had nothing to get out of
them. he did not need to convert
them for they we're already his
loyal believers and friends. He
spent time in their home just
sitting and talking. he went to
at least one dinner party there.
Friendship calls for leisure, it
will not ripen in a hurry.
He Gave Them Understanding
Men, women and children are
all alike in wanting to be under
stood. Understanding some one
else is simply (only it's not SIM
pleD a matter Of putting your
self in the other persons place
seeing and feeling as he sees and
feels. This is particularly diff
cult when a man tries to under
stand a woman. and vice versa,
just for the reason that man
can never really be a woman,
nor she a man. Men, to save the
trouble of trying to understand,
too often think that romance is
a fair substitute, which of course
it isn't. Even romance without
understanding "goes phhht,"
soon enough. Now Jesus under
stood Martha and Mary. They
had different temperaments,
these sisters. Jesus never sug-
gested that Martha should be
another Mary. nor Mary another
Martha. Jesus knew what they
were like, he knew what to say
to each one. In the most en-
barrassing situations. as when
Mary broke the ointment over
Jesus head. other people might
laugh Of feel indignant. but not
Jesus. He could understand why
it had been done. he knew what
was in Mary's heart.
He Gave Them Help
Jesus gave these two friends
of his what cannot well be given
without understanding namely
help. Trying to help some one
we do not understand is wasted
effort. Jesus did not help these
women with money. They we're
evidently better off than he.
who had mo place to lay his
head" But he gave them help
that was longer lasting and no
doubt more cherished than fl
nancial or physical help could
have been. How can the poor help
the rich? They can help only if
they have something those they
wish to help do not have. This
was the case there at the home
of Martha and Mary. Their time
of sore trouble came with the
death Of their only brother, Lag
arus. Jesus gives the sisters help
on the deepest level. It would
have been astounding news, and
most welcome besides, If Jesus
had said to them simply, do
not cry. Your brother is going to
come back to life." Instead of
telling them he is about to per-
form a mighty miracle, pos
sibly the only one In that town.
instead Of saying Your brother
will be back again." he says.
Il am the resurrection and TIE
life." To know what that meant,
and to respond to it as Martha
did. is tU receive help that never
grows less.
Biased On outlines copyright
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