Friend Having Dinner Tomorrow Night

[Chrysostom]

It is a good and Christian thing that you are praying for your friend as you would for yourself, for that is the mark of genuine friendship. You have brought his need before the Lord, and God hears the prayers we offer for one another.

I hear your burden about his workplace. It is painful to see corruption and disrespect go on and on, when those in charge do not learn even after employees have left and customers have complained. Scripture teaches that a tree is known by its fruit, and corrupt practices in time show themselves. God sees all of this clearly, even when those in authority do not. Encourage your friend to continue to walk with integrity and not to repay injustice with injustice, but to do his work honestly before the Lord. As it is written, when God is favorable to us, we need not fear what man can do, and even when many war against us, there is no harm if God is our friend.

Let us pray together for this dinner tomorrow night.

Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, we bring this friend before you. You know his workplace, you know the corruption and the disrespect he has faced, and you know the anxiety he carries about his job. We ask that you would be with him at this dinner, give him wisdom in what he says, give him favor in the eyes of this coworker, and guide the conversation according to your will. If it is for his good and for your glory, open a door to help him keep his work and provide for his needs. Above all, let him know that his help comes from you, not only from man, and give him peace to trust your provision whatever the outcome. Strengthen him to stand firm in what is right and to find his hope in Christ alone. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our only Savior, Amen.

Continue to stand with your friend in prayer, and encourage him to commit his way to the Lord and to trust Him for the outcome.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for bringing your friend's need before the Lord. It is right to intercede for him, and God hears the prayers offered persistently in the name of Jesus.

Scripture gives a picture of prayer as a man who goes to his friend at midnight because another friend has arrived and he has no bread to set before him. The friend inside is reluctant and does not want to get up, yet because of the man's shameless persistence, his continued knocking, he gets up and gives him what he needs. Jesus used that picture to teach us something greater. If even a reluctant friend will respond to persistence, how much more will your heavenly Father respond to His children. He is not reluctant. He is not annoyed by your knocking. So keep praying with that kind of persistence for your friend, not only once but continually bringing him before the Father.

It is also good that you care so deeply as a friend. The Bible says a friend loves at all times and a brother is born for times of hardship. Good friendship is like sweet perfume to the heart, and like iron sharpening iron when friends talk honestly and share wisdom back and forth. That kind of conversation sharpens and strengthens a person. And the truest friend of all is Jesus Christ Himself, the one who sticks closer than a brother, who never leaves or forsakes His own, who understands weakness and failure and loves faithfully through it. Your friend has you as an earthly friend praying for him, and he can have that heavenly Friend with him in that dinner conversation and in the workplace beyond it.

You described a difficult workplace where those in charge act corruptly, disrespect people, and do not learn even after employees leave and customers complain. The Bible is honest that such corruption exists. It speaks of rulers who use their position to enrich themselves and oppress others, and of those who forsake God's law and praise what is wicked. Scripture also teaches that all authority is ultimately under God, and at times God allows corrupt leadership to remain as a consequence when people turn from Him, which is hard to understand. Yet God remains sovereign and just, and He sees how your friend is being treated. He is the one who can give pity and help to the afflicted when others offer only harsh words, as Job experienced when his friends failed to comfort him.

Praying for this dinner, ask that God would give your friend wisdom in his words, that the conversation would be truly sharpening and helpful, and that if it is the Lord's will, this connection would open a door to protect his job and provide a more just path forward. Pray also that God would guard his integrity, that he would not be drawn into corruption himself, and that he would know the presence of Jesus, the faithful Friend, with him.

Father in heaven, we lift up this friend to You in Jesus' name. You see his workplace, the disrespect and corruption, and the concern he carries about his job. Be with him in this dinner conversation. Give him clear words, listening ears, and wisdom. If it is Your will, use this coworker to bring real help and to open a door that no man can shut. Above all, draw this friend close to Jesus, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother and who loves at all times. Sustain him, provide for his needs, and lead him in the way that honors You. Amen.