Very often we find God referred to as the friend of man. Humanity talks of Him as possessing all the qualities which constitute true friendship. No one could approach the contemplation of the divine nature and not at once acknowledge that it must include all that means "friend" in its largest interpretation. All this seems quite familiar to the thought of men when regarding Deity. It is not so natural, however, for them to think of the possibility of being God's friend. And yet God spoke of Abraham as "my friend." James tells us that "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." We also read in Exodus that "the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend;" while our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p.220), "Each day I pray: 'God bless my enemies; make them Thy friends; give them to know the joy and the peace of love.'"
Now true friendship is always altogether disinterested and knows no limit to its willingness to sacrifice. It is that which acts continually for the advantage of the one whom it calls friend. To be the true friend of any one is to set his interests above one's own. It is to be so closely acquainted with all that is grand and true in his nature that no least breath of defamation, of unjust criticism, shall be allowed to blow upon his name. It is to be ever alert to defend all that is his, to protect his concerns at any cost to one's self. It is always to love to be in his presence; to be so certain each is understanding the other that even words often seem unnecessary. Such friendship is a holy thing, and even among men to-day it stands as something almost divine.
And men to-day need to become the friends of God; for true divine sonship would lack one of its most important essentials did it not include friendship. But to become conscious of this relationship, God must be understood. The world has been taught so many untruths concerning the nature of God that it is scarcely strange that men have seemed often rather to avoid than to seek Him. Ages ago, however, Eliphaz said to Job, "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee;" but the understanding of what his own words meant, or of how they were to be put into effect, must have been very slight, since Job could only cry out in answer, "Oh that I knew where I might find him! " Today, Christian Science is here, not only explaining the nature of God, but also pointing out the way to take every step in making His acquaintance and in becoming His friend.
