The Kind of Friend…

THE KIND OF FRIEND… I should aspire to be.

The Bible makes quite a few references regarding the importance of friends. Yet, if we look at the characteristics of a friend detailed in the Scripture, even though we may have many friendships throughout our lives, an intimate friend, who we can lean on in the valleys and praise with us on the mountaintops, who we can trust with our thoughts and share our deepest emotions, and who will encourage us through the storms and lend a hand when our strength is low, is a rare and limited find during our lives.

When I think of special friendships, a specific few come to mind, one of which is Elijah and Elisha. Elisha, even when Elijah let him know he did not need to, stuck by Elijah’s side until the end. Elisha’s sincere dedication to Elijah is detailed in 2 Kings 2:6 as it reads, “And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on” (KJV). Another such example is Ruth and Naomi. In the first chapter of Ruth, after the death of Naomi’s sons, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their homeland with their families. Yet, Ruth refuses to leave Naomi alone. Ruth expresses her dedication as she states, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16 KJV).

But if I were speaking of friendships in the Bible, the bond between David and Jonathan is probably one of the first that surfaces in my thoughts. I suppose that is because of the details describing the depth, loyalty, and love shared between these two friends. We don’t even have to interpret the text. It clearly states in 1 Samuel 18:1 that “… the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (KJV). And then in 1 Samuel 18:4, this love is demonstrated as we are told, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle” (KJV). Now, we know there is significance in this as Jonathan, the king’s son, would have been in line for the throne, and David has been anointed as God’s chosen king to succeed King Saul instead. However, I also think that Jonathan giving these items to David represents so much more in their friendship. Jonathan hasn’t gone out and purchased new items. He is giving David his own possessions, items that probably hold some sentimental value to Jonathan. How much more does this sword mean to David when he grasps it in his palm because it belonged to his friend? And then as we move on through the story, we know that they trust each other enough to bear their deepest emotions. As David has to depart because Saul is seeking his life, the farewell scene of Jonathan and David plays out in 1 Samuel 20:41-42 as it says they “…wept one with another, … And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever…” (KJV). Another important note about their friendship in this verse is the mention of the Lord. I believe this is a clear indication that part of their friendship was encouraging each other in the Lord.

As I said earlier, friends of this type are a rare commodity throughout our lives. And as I read the story of David and Jonathan, one specific friendship in my life stands at the forefront. I suppose it was about 25 years ago. (Wow. Time flies.) But I first became acquainted with this specific friend when we lived in the same neighborhood. Our deep friendship came so easily as we had the same beliefs and our brains seemed to run on the same wavelength… having the same interests as well as minds that were triggered by many of the same worries. Through the years we have remained friends, and yet in the last few years, now living in separate states, our friendship has become even more treasured. Her encouragement and inspiration is a gift from God and the epitome of the message in Proverbs 27:17 which says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (KJV). Whether it is her daily reminders to lift my shield of faith, taking time to pray with me, or texting a verse or song of praise, this friend encourages me in my walk with Christ. And as I read the story of David and Jonathan not long ago, I thought of the precious gift this friend sent me at Christmas and the tears that came to my eyes as I knew what this treasure meant to my friend. She had given me a bracelet that had belonged to her mother. This bracelet had beads that symbolized the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5. Words could never express how much this gift meant to me because I knew to my friend, this item was priceless.

Walking through this life, finding friends on this level are few and far between. And yet, we all have a friend that exceeds any friendship that we could ever hope for, a friend that will never leave our side, a friend that has sacrificed the ultimate. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (KJV), and that is just what Jesus did. He died for his friends, for you and for me. How do we know that we are his friends? In John 15:15, He says, “… I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (KJV).

As we develop friendships, let us be the kind of friend that sharpens another. And let us walk every moment with Jesus, knowing He will never leave us. Because of Jesus, we are never alone. And there will never be any greater friend.