--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A friend is a possession we earn, not a…" description: "\"A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift. …The Lord has declared that those who serve him and keep his commandments are called his servants. After ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/marvin-j-ashton-3195_faithful_a-friend-is-a-possession-we-earn-not-a-g_1855516.png" --- # A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift. …The Lord… ![“A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift. …The Lord has declared that those who serve him and keep his commandments are called his servants. After they have been tested and tried and are found faithful and true in all things, they are called no longer servants, but friends. His friends are the…” quote by Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/marvin-j-ashton-3195_faithful_a-friend-is-a-possession-we-earn-not-a-g_1855516.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/marvin-j-ashton-3195_faithful_a-friend-is-a-possession-we-earn-not-a-g_1855516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89e/marvin-j-ashton-3195_faithful_a-friend-is-a-possession-we-earn-not-a-g_1855516.png) > “A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift. …The Lord has declared that those who serve him and keep his commandments are called his servants. After they have been tested and tried and are found faithful and true in all things, they are called no longer servants, but friends. His friends are the ones he will take into his kingdom and with whom he will associate in an eternal inheritance.” [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship is earned through faithful service, not given as a gift, and leads to eternal fellowship. **In simple terms:** Friends are earned, not given. Key Takeaway Serve faithfully to become a true friend. Themes faith service friendship eternity Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - church community - personal relationships - spiritual mentorship Key Concepts spirituality loyalty inheritance Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate loyalty in friendships? - What does “eternal inheritance” mean to you? A Different Perspective Friendship also requires mutual respect and effort, not just service. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inheritance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inheritance/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Lds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lds/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) ## Related quotes > [A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/a-friend-is-a-possession-we-earn-not-a-gift/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/if-you-desire-to-find-the-true-spirit-of-christmas-and-partake-of-the/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [“it is common for those that have called themselves His servants, after awhile to give Him the slip, and return again to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-common-for-those-that-have-called-themselves-his-servants-after/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [It is hard to say why politicians are called servants, unless it is because a good one is hard to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-f-lieberman/it-is-hard-to-say-why-politicians-are-called-servants-unless-it-is/) [Gerald F. Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-f-lieberman/) > [Meek wifehood is no part of my profession; / I am your friend, but never your possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-brittain/meek-wifehood-is-no-part-of-my-profession-i-am-your-friend-but-never/) [Vera Brittain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-brittain/) > [I am a friend. I have in my possession two thousand assorted buttons, eight hundred keys, and only one friend. Perhaps it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/i-am-a-friend-i-have-in-my-possession-two-thousand-assorted-buttons/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“we all want to be called servants until someone treats us like one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-baylis/we-all-want-to-be-called-servants-until-someone-treats-us-like-one/) Albert Baylis > [“With God’s help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances. … It is sunshine when clouds block the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/with-god-s-help-good-cheer-permits-us-to-rise-above-the-depressing/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“After explainging that the Relief Society is one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the world, he said: "People wonder what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/after-explainging-that-the-relief-society-is-one-of-the-oldest-and/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [“We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true Mormons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith/we-should-gather-all-the-good-and-true-principles-in-the-world-and/) [Joseph Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith/) > [The world around you is not equipped to provide the help you need to make it through this often treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-world-around-you-is-not-equipped-to-provide-the-help-you-need-to/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [“We must help young women immerse themselves in a selfless work, perhaps receiving little public praise or attention. Instead, they must feel the Lord’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-f-marriott/we-must-help-young-women-immerse-themselves-in-a-selfless-work/) [Neill F. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-f-marriott/) > [You can't change t he wor ld f rom t he rear view mir ror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/you-can-t-change-t-he-wor-ld-f-rom-t-he-rear-view-mir-ror/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [I have now been an officer in this Church for a very long time. I am an old man who cannot deny the calendar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-have-now-been-an-officer-in-this-church-for-a-very-long-time-i-am/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“This is a church of tenderness and arrogance, of sparkling differences and human failings. There is no unmixing the two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-brooks/this-is-a-church-of-tenderness-and-arrogance-of-sparkling-differences/) [Joanna Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-brooks/) ## More by Marvin J. Ashton > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Satan is ever present, trying to destroy our glory and remove our crown. One of his most powerful tools is discouragement. Don't let your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/satan-is-ever-present-trying-to-destroy-our-glory-and-remove-our/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Shaking off restrictive chains requires action. They cannot be wished away. A declaration will never break chains. It requires commitment, self-discipline, and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/shaking-off-restrictive-chains-requires-action-they-cannot-be-wished/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“The shepherds were invited to come and see. They saw. They trembled. They testified. They rejoiced. They saw Him wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/the-shepherds-were-invited-to-come-and-see-they-saw-they-trembled/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/as-children-of-god-we-are-somebody-he-will-build-us-mold-us-and/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [We should teach, particularly ourselves, that nobody is a nobody. We are someone, and with God's help we can accomplish all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-should-teach-particularly-ourselves-that-nobody-is-a-nobody-we-are/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/perhaps-the-greatest-charity-comes-when-we-are-kind-to-each-other/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“An understanding, loving heart is the pinnacle of all human emotions…. We come closest to becoming Christlike when we are charitable and understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/an-understanding-loving-heart-is-the-pinnacle-of-all-human-emotions/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [When a mother asked her small child how he fell out of bed, he answered, "Because I wasn't in far enough." Let me just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/when-a-mother-asked-her-small-child-how-he-fell-out-of-bed-he/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [All of us need to be constantly reminded it takes a heap of living and loving to make a house a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/all-of-us-need-to-be-constantly-reminded-it-takes-a-heap-of-living/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [A willingness to vocalize feelings. How important it is to be willing to voice one's thoughts and feelings. Yes, how important it is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/a-willingness-to-vocalize-feelings-how-important-it-is-to-be-willing/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Peace-not passion, not personal possessions, not personal accomplishments nor happiness-is one of the greatest blessings a man can receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/peace-not-passion-not-personal-possessions-not-personal/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Young people . . , God wants us to be victorious. He wants you to triumph over all of your foes. Stalwart and brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/young-people-god-wants-us-to-be-victorious-he-wants-you-to-triumph/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [The direction in which we are moving is more important than where we are at the moment. Goal setting should cause us to stretch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/the-direction-in-which-we-are-moving-is-more-important-than-where-we/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“With God’s help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances. … It is sunshine when clouds block the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/with-god-s-help-good-cheer-permits-us-to-rise-above-the-depressing/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) [Explore all 137 Marvin J. Ashton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) ## More Faithful quotes > [Females always say, you can't turn a hoe into a house wife, but steady be trying to turn a dog into a faithful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/females-always-say-you-can-t-turn-a-hoe-into-a-house-wife-but-steady/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Being faithful shouldn't be challenging, cheating should. Too bad its the other way around though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-faithful-shouldn-t-be-challenging-cheating-should-too-bad-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“The characteristics of this kind of reading are perhaps summed up in the word “orthodox,” which is almost always applicable. The word comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/the-characteristics-of-this-kind-of-reading-are-perhaps-summed-up-in/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If you can't tame your man sexually you don't have a chance of ever having a FAITHFUL MAN, it's not right but it's truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-t-tame-your-man-sexually-you-don-t-have-a-chance-of-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“True humility is fearless honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/true-humility-is-fearless-honesty/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [One of the achievements of the reform movement is that people realize that they can be democrats and remain faithful Muslims. Democracy is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdolkarim-soroush/one-of-the-achievements-of-the-reform-movement-is-that-people-realize/) [Abdolkarim Soroush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdolkarim-soroush/) > [I'm practicing a kind of meandering faith, or faithful meandering. I just trust that something is coming. I don't know what it is. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jones/i-m-practicing-a-kind-of-meandering-faith-or-faithful-meandering-i/) [Sarah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jones/) > [All great expression, which on a superficial survey seems so easy as well as so simple, furnishes after a while, to the faithful observer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/all-great-expression-which-on-a-superficial-survey-seems-so-easy-as/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [If you are spiritual and faithful about your situation, you'll make it through it. And my life is a testimony to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-d-o-c/if-you-are-spiritual-and-faithful-about-your-situation-you-ll-make-it/) [The D.O.C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-d-o-c/) > [“Courage is being who you are. Courage is sacred of thyself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/courage-is-being-who-you-are-courage-is-sacred-of-thyself/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Once you let them establish their ideology in you, they will drive you crazy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-let-them-establish-their-ideology-in-you-they-will-drive-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) [Browse all 1,733 Faithful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift. …The Lord has declared that those who serve him and keep his commandments are called his servants. After they have been tested and tried and are found faithful and true in all things, they are called no longer servants, but friends. 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