No One Is a Failure Who Has Friends

“Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

It’s a Wonderful Life

This holiday classic was made in 1946, but it still strikes a chord in the heart of anyone who has known the dark pit of discouragement. We might not be George Bailey in Bedford Falls during the Great Depression, but we know what it’s like to be stuck, to be low, and to be powerless to pull ourselves back up. Jesus came to Earth for moments like this.

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],

Luke 4:18 AMPC

What mattered most to Jesus—his goal in life—was helping people, not getting success or status for himself. We know from verses like Hebrews 12 that the joy he got from loving people overpowered any discouragement or pain he may have felt.

Like Jesus, we can choose what’s most important to us. When our goal is to love people, we don’t have to worry about success or failure in life. But when we spend our lives striving for attention, status, or achievements, we will fail to experience the wonderful life God wants us to enjoy.

In today’s story, we meet two groups of people who faced a potentially discouraging situation in very different ways, and as a result, experienced two very different outcomes. Join us for this Mini Quiet Time about how no one is a failure who has friends.

References:

“Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

It’s a Wonderful Life

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],

Luke 4:18 AMPC

One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.

[18] Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, [19] but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. [20] Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” [21] But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” [22] Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?”

Luke 5:17-22 NLT

[23] Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? [24] So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” [25] And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. [26] Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Luke 5:23-26 NLT