3AM Friends

John 15:13–14 (ESV)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I was talking to a Bible class in America about life and ministry in Germany.  Somehow we got on the topic of how the words “|Sie” and “du” are used in the German language.  Both of the words are translated into English as “you.”  The word “Sie” is formal while “du”  is informal.  As I understand it, you should always use the word “Sie” with people when you first meet them.  It’s normal to use it in business relationships, with those who are in authority positions (your boss, your teacher) and with older people.  In fact you should use the word “Sie” until such time as the other person gives you permission to use the word “du.” That permission is an honor, it’s an invitation to become a friend.

It was at this point that a German man (who has lived in the USA for 40 or more years) stopped me  He explained that to be given permission to use the word “du” means the person is making a commitment to you.  They are pledging to be your friend for life, promising that they will be there whenever you need them, even at 3 in the morning.  He said that there was even a ritual for the process of going from “Sie” to “du.”   I asked our German teacher about all of this.  She said, “Well maybe that was the case 40 years ago but Germans, especially the younger generation have become more relaxed about all of this.  The formal “Sie” is still used but the lines are perhaps not as rigid as they once were. 

Even if that is the case, I must say that the idea of having a friend so committed to you that they would get up to help you at 3am, without complaining, is pretty cool.  As I thought about this I realized that along the way God has given me many “3 AM friends.”  I could call Pastor David Koch anytime about any issue.  James Geyer took three days off to travel from Nebraska, to Illinois with me, to attend my Aunt’s funeral.  He and another man, Wayne Tegeler, traveled all the way from Nebraska to Texas for my dad’s funeral.  The Lasches lent us their van for a trip to Austin when our van’s tires went bad.  I could go on and on.  3AM friends are a blessing!

Indeed they are a gift from the God who is Himself our 3AM friend and more.  He is both “Sie” and“du” at one in the same time.  After all He is the creator of all, who took on flesh and blood to become a part of the creation.  In Jesus He who is our Lord became our brother.  By living among us, dying for our sins and rising again, He made His commitment to us crystal clear.  Jesus said it in the verse above, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” 

He made that friendship eternal when He adopted you into His family.  On the day of your baptism He became both “Sie” and “du” to you.  He became Your Father and your daddy… inviting you both to stand in awe of Him and yet to boldly ask Him anything as dear children ask their dear Father.  At that moment Jesus became both Lord of your life and brother.  You worship Him and yet you can tell Him anything and everything at any time. Your God is your best 3AM friend.

You know as I think back on all the 3AM friends I have had in life, 90% of them have been believers.  All of them are a gift of God and I hope I have been the same to them.  Indeed I believe that its’s through very real 3AM friends that God makes visible His commitment to us.  In our friends and in our friendship to others we make plain to one another that our God is both “Sie” and “du.”  He is the best 3AM…. 24/7 friend we could ever have.  Amen.