Ryan sat on the front steps of his home petting Lady, his dog, thinking sadly of how she was the only friend he had in this small town. Since moving from the city, he had never really made friends with any of the boys at school.
It was then that he noticed some boys about his age running down the street. In a few minutes a boy he recognized, named Kevin, came running by, and seeing Ryan sitting on the steps stopped and called, “Hi, Ryan. How come you’re staying at home on a day off school?”
Ryan didn’t answer, but he did walk down to the gate where Kevin was standing. “Boy, I’d sure like to have him for a friend,” Ryan thought. Kevin was smart and popular.
“Why don’t you come with us? Scott, Chuck, Todd and me are goin’ out to Cairn Creek be fun.”
“Wait and I’ll ask my mom,” he answered excitedly. Ryan was overjoyed when his mom said, “Yes.”
While she quickly packed him a lunch she said, “Ryan, I know that you want to make friends here, but don’t forget the ‘Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.’ Don’t do anything that would not please Him.”
Kevin and Ryan had to hurry to catch up to the other three boys, who seemed a little surprised to see Ryan. But since he came with Kevin, they did not say anything.
The morning passed quickly because they were having fun. About lunch time Scott said, “Hey, you guys, it’s time to make that raid for our lunch.”
“Let’s send Ryan,” said Chuck. They all thought that was a good idea, so Ryan was told to go to Mr. Wilson’s orchard and pick ten apples.
Ryan looked around the group. “Hey, did he say we could have the apples?” he asked.
" Did he say we could have them? How could he when he doesn’t even know?” laughed Chuck.
“Do you think old Wilson would give anything away?” sneered Todd. “Just go and help yourself.”
“Not me,” said Ryan firmly.
“Don’t be afraid. We’ll be your lookouts,” encouraged Scott.
Ryan was silent for a moment. He belonged to the Lord Jesus, and he knew that stealing was wrong...and yet he did want friends, too. But Jesus was the best Friend he could ever have, and so he quickly asked, “Lord Jesus, help me.”
“I’m not goin',” he said flatly. “That’s stealing, and I’m not stealing for anyone. I belong to Jesus.”
“Aw, com’on,” said Kevin, “he’ll never miss a few apples.”
Ryan shook his head. “Those apples don’t mean much to you, but they still don’t belong to us. If we take some, it’s stealing—just like stealing money. I wouldn’t take Mr. Wilson’s money, would you?”
Ryan picked up his lunch and headed back to the road. He felt sad at losing his new friends, but then he thought of Jesus, the “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The Lord Jesus wouldn’t leave him!
He hadn’t gotten to the road when he heard someone running up behind him. “Hey, Ry, wait up.” It was Kevin calling him.
“Ry, what you say is right,” he puffed. “I never thought about it like that. It didn’t seem wrong to take apples, but I know it’s not right to steal!”
Kevin and Ryan became good friends. But better than that, Kevin soon learned about Jesus and His love and asked Him to be his Saviour, and together the two boys tried to please Him in everything they did.
Best of all, how happy the Lord must have been to see this loyalty in His young believer! And what a reward Ryan got in winning Kevin, not only as his friend, but also to the Lord Jesus.
May this story help each one of us always to remember: “Thou God seest me” (Gen. 16:13); “A true witness delivereth souls” (Prov. 14:25); “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25).
ML-02/20/1983