Every area of our life in this restless world requires us to fulfill certain duties. They are automatically placed upon us as we participate in a particular activity or by virtue of belonging to a particular community.
The first time I encountered direct duties imposed upon me by the state was when, at a certain age, I was drafted for military service in the Soviet Army. The constitution of that time stated that military service was the honorable duty of every citizen of the country.
During my service, I was given military regulations that defined my direct duties. From the first day, I was required to memorize them. They were called ‘The Duties of a Soldier.’
During my service, I was promoted to the rank of junior sergeant, which carried its own duties that I also had to memorize.
The commanding officers required all service members to maintain relationships according to military regulations and strictly monitored compliance. Every violation was stopped immediately and brought an appropriate disciplinary action or punishment.
I also frequently witnessed young couples establishing families while deeply in love with one another and very happy. They were prepared to serve each other from morning until night and please each other in everything. But time passed, and strange structures of rights and duties rose upon the ruins of love. I often witnessed what happens when love departs from a relationship. Sometimes one spouse acquires special rights while the other receives duties, and sometimes the arrangement is reversed. It was very sad to hear that one person owed something to another while the speaker himself claimed the right to a special status.
Although secular society should not serve as an example for students of the School of Agape Love, I also decided to define a friend’s duties and express my position quite clearly in this lesson so that none of my friends would entertain any different ideas.
At first, to understand what reaction my list would produce, I decided to read it aloud to a close friend and see how my invention would be received. His reaction surprised me greatly. I believe your freedom-loving will is likely to respond in the same way. Yet I understood clearly that every person whom the Lord has given me must hear my list of ‘a friend’s duties.’ Once they learn it, none of them will have any chance of avoiding the performance of the direct duties I have established as law for each of my friends.
I take into account the conditions of the last days, our close relationships, and my love for my friend. Yet my conscience simply does not permit me to leave him without this additional weight of meaning.
My dear friends, I would very much like you to memorize this list of ‘a friend’s duties’ and never forget any of the rules that will be placed upon your shoulders.
Let us now begin declaring what we have finally reached through our education in the School.
A Friend’s Duties
My dear friend, you are required to:
1. Always remember that, to me, you are the finest person in the world.
2. Understand that Jesus loves you and paid an extremely high price for your salvation, and that you must form your opinion of yourself according to that price.
3. Know that I love you at all times and, when necessary, will come to help you in times of adversity.
4. Give all your cares to Christ in prayer, because He cares for you and desires to take all your burdens upon Himself.
5. Never doubt that, in my eyes, you are a wonderful and intelligent person.
6. Be certain that my vocabulary will always contain many kind words of love for you. You may expect them from me at any time and ask me to speak them to you if I become distracted by something else.
7. Accept the fact that you have become my friend forever and eternally, so that even death cannot separate us.
8. Be certain that even if we do not communicate for a long time or are occupied with our own affairs, you still remain my friend and will never lose this status.
9. Understand one simple thing: you are always my friend, even if something changes in your worldview or you commit a sin that deprives you of the right to Eternal Life. You can always rely upon my love for you and upon my understanding of your condition without condemning you.
10. Understand my status in relation to you. I have been given to you not to judge you but to love you.
11. Come to me with needs in which I can participate according to my strength and abilities.
12. Understand the simple truth that I am not Christ and cannot resolve all your problems or carry their weight upon myself. I am a friend who is always ready to lead you to Jesus, Who will help you in everything in the best possible way and can understand your need in every situation.
13. Know that you are very dear to me.
14. Accept the fact that, in my eyes, you are always better than I am, but Jesus is better than both of us.
15. Remember that you are God’s blessing to me, which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it.
16. Know the simple truth that your soul is like a storehouse filled with the treasures of your amazing qualities. I can continually find and discover them within you so that throughout this life and then throughout Eternity, I may bring joy to your good heart.
17. Understand that I do not see you as you imagine yourself, but as my love for you reveals you to me.
18. Do not forget that I also enjoy participating in your life and helping you with matters that are difficult for you to resolve on your own.
19. Count on me to participate joyfully in all your joys, share my happiness with you, and always be your friend.
20. Memorize this list and do not fear that anything will be removed from it.
21. Speak to me with words of love and friendliness if they fill you to overflowing and you can no longer contain this blessing within yourself.
22. Know that at any time, you may also define my duties toward you and expect me to fulfill them.
23. Remember that even while remaining my friend, you are completely free to arrange your life as you consider right.
24. Keep in mind that your place within my heart belongs only to you. You will never lose it, and no one else will occupy it.
25. Understand the simple fact that this list of duties always remains open to new items discovered during the working process of our relationship.
26. Never doubt that all these rules were written from a pure heart and are true concerning you.
I would very much like to see your face, my friend, as you read this list of your direct duties. I would also like to hear what your heart experiences as you consider the meaning of the words I have written to you.
Perhaps your heart will rebel against such arbitrary conduct on my part and disagree with something. Do not rush to conclusions. Allow time and God to reveal all this to you in the proper light.
Jesus called us to love one another, and through this love for you, I arrived at what you have just read. I hope you have clearly understood your direct duties toward me and will fulfill them impeccably. May the Lord help us.
Bible Verses for Reflection
John 3:16; 13:34–35; Proverbs 10:22; 17:17; Isaiah 43:4; Romans 12:9–10; 15:1–3; Psalm 133:1; Ephesians 4:2–3; Philippians 2:1–8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:7; 1 Corinthians 13:1–8.