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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Friendship (04/04/05)
When was the last time you shared something with someone, but you were still able to keep it for yourself? You'd be surprised. It may happen more often than you think.

I'm talking about the sharing of knowledge. When you share your knowledge, which you probably do everyday through conversations and email, you give knowledge to the other person. However, you also retain that knowledge for yourself. As a result, both of you now have the knowledge.

Knowledge sharing is unlike other types of sharing. Usually, when you share an item, you can no longer use the item for yourself. Think of the last time you shared some food. After the other person ate it, the food was no longer available to you. (Yes, I know, it's an awful example. It may make you want to stop sharing.) Well I'm glad to say that this doesn't happen when we share knowledge. More often than not, it costs us nothing to do so.

For Allan Bloom, who described this whole notion in "The Closing of the American Mind", knowledge sharing is the greatest form of friendship. When a friend shares his knowledge, he actually gains. He gains because he is able to give something that he wants his friend to have. All the while, he loses nothing himself. On the other end, the recipient learns something important from a friend who cares enough to share it with him. So, no one loses, and both gain. It's the closest thing to a win-win situation.

This description of friendship is a great way to describe Christianity. Think of all the times Jesus shared his knowledge with others. He taught often, not for his own benefit, but to show his listeners the way to redemption. It cost Jesus nothing to share his knowledge, but everyone who listened had a chance to gain.

As for Christians who share the Gospel with others, they lose nothing of themselves. Better yet, they can come out ahead. By speaking about the Gospel, they may save someone. If this happens, they build up treasures for themselves not just here on Earth, but up there in heaven as well.

When a Christian shares the Gospel with another person, two people benefit, but an additional person also benefits. Who is this third beneficiary? It is Jesus himself. He gains because his follower was faithful. Jesus wants us to spread the Gospel. When we do, we obey Jesus and glorify God.

We have a saying here in my state of Texas: Drive friendly. As a Christian, you can do something more important: Live friendly. How? Share your knowledge of Jesus and the Gospel.
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This article has been read 1481 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Delores Baber
04/12/05
Thanks for your insight. When you share a treasure, you only have a portion left, but when you share with others out of God's treasure of grace, it becomes multiplies. How many have shared since calvary for the gospel to reach my heart? Thanks for sharing about the value of sharing. Friends don't let friends die without knowing about Jesus. Thanks.
Leticia Caroccio
04/12/05
I can imagine this article as being great for a Teen Bible study, or a Bible study for anyone. Good ideas, and unique perspective on the topic of friendship. I liked it.