No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 HCSB)

I wanted to write about friendship for today’s blog and though I have many great friends, I can’t say that I have a best friend.

Looking through the Bible, I found several verses about friendships. One of my favorites is:

A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a difficult time.

(Proverbs 17:17 HCSB)

Isn’t that the epitome of friendship? Loving someone no matter what? Loving them to the point that you care more for their life than you do your own.

In 1 Samuel chapters 18-20 we learn about the friendship between David and Jonathan. It was the time before David became king. At the time, Jonathan’s father was king, King Saul. King Saul was jealous of David because the people loved him more. They sang the following about King Saul and David:

Saul has killed his thousands,

but David his tens of thousands.

(1 Samuel 18:7 HCSB)

King Saul also knew that God favored David because he was successful in everything he did. But the Bible says that Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself and made a covenant with David. They were best friends.

Yet, because of King Saul’s jealousy of David he ordered Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. Jonathan, because of his friendship with David, convinced his father that it would be a terrible thing to kill David and King Saul agreed.

But, it wasn’t long before King Saul was again pursuing David to kill him. This time, David came to Jonathan and begged him to tell him what he had done wrong. But, Jonathan didn’t believe his father had it out for David or King Saul would have told Jonathan. So to be sure, Jonathan and David devised a plan.

Jonathan would go to dinner without David. When the king asked where David was, Jonathan would explain that he gave David permission to go to his parents’ home for a visit. If the king became angry, then he would know that the king had it out for David.

The first night that David was not in attendance for dinner, king Saul didn’t say anything. But the second night David wasn’t there, the king Saul asked about David. Jonathan told his father he gave David permission to go to see his family.  King Saul became infuriated. He because so enraged that he said some mean things and threw his spear at him with the intention to kill him. It was these actions that proved king Saul had it out for David.

Jonathan reported to David his father’s actions. They had a tearful goodbye, but would remember the promise they made to each other; to love each other.

I’ve not made a promise of friendship like Jonathan and David. I think the hardest part about having a close friend is getting hurt because you’ve trusted the wrong person. But, you’ll never find that trustworthy person until you open yourself up.

In the meantime, Jesus is the perfect friend, the ultimate friend. Did he not die for you and me? Yet, there is nothing like having a friend on earth, and Jesus knows that. He had three men he always called to his side.

For me, I do want close friends. I’ve come to realize that I can’t keep everything going on in my life to myself. I don’t want to tell everyone I meet, so I’ve chosen to tell only a couple people outside of my family.

Lord, thank you for being the ultimate friend. Guide me to people I can trust. Those I can be friends with for a long time. In all things, I pray for your will.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. (Proverbs 17:17 HCSB) Tweet This.