Best Friends (F4)

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20:1-42 1 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. (1 Samuel 18:1-4 NLT) Crown Prince Jonathan and David from Bethlehem became best friends! When David and Jonathan met, David was actually a threat to Jonathan’s career and future. Samuel had already anointed David as Israel’s future king. Now every military victory on David’s part moved them one day closer to the time David would rule on the throne Jonathan could have inherited. But Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself! I admire Jonathan as much as I admire anyone in the Bible! Jonathan was noble, loyal, and was willing to lay down his throne and his life for his friend David. Jesus said that the two most God-pleasing things a person can do are to 1) Love God supremely and; 2) Love your neighbor, brother, friend as much as you love yourself! By Jesus’ standard Jonathan must have been a very God-pleasing man!

I suspect that some of my friends are better friends to me than I am to them, measured by the care and concern they show to me compared to the care and concern I show to them! But I’m learning to value friendship more and more. Since moving back to the United States, there’ve been times when I kept so busy I didn’t invest as deeply as I could have in friendships. In margin-less lives, friendships starve. I’m determined to feed my friendships better with my time, my energy, and my presence.

Do you have a friend like Jonathan? Are you a friend like Jonathan? I recommend that you ask God to help you develop a handful of real, rich friendships. It will cost time, money, effort, and might possibly cost you some achievement. However, when you’re looking back on your life, I’m pretty sure you won’t regret your investments in friendships! Prayer: Father, I purpose to be a better friend to my friends. I’m open to new friendships and I will do my best to be a good steward of the friendship gifts you give me. I’m going to feed my friendships with time and effort so they will be healthy and strong. Amen.