Your Daily Devotional for March 2, 2006

March 2, 2006

 

The Commitment of a Godly Friendship

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 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.”

1 Samuel 18:1-4

 

In this passage, we read about the special bond of friendship shared between David and Jonathan. Verse three says that “Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.” Jonathan saw in David a commitment to godliness. They were drawn together by a mutual desire to live holy and obedient Christian lives.

 

Jonathan and David not only shared a mutual desire to please God, they were both deeply committed to fulfilling this godly desire. There was a common bond. You see, good friendships are bound by rights, duties, and commitments. Good friends keep each other accountable to their goals and beliefs. They say, “We will not allow our friendship to keep us from drawing closer to the Lord and to the things that please Him.”

 

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” When you are with your close friends, are they sharpening you spiritually? If they are taking you away from God’s house or talking about things that would displease Jesus Christ than they are not helping you.

In 1 Samuel we read that Jonathan loved David “as his own soul.” Jonathan’s friendship was completely unselfish. In verse four, Jonathan gave his princely robe to David. The giving of the robe signified the anticipation of God’s promise that David would one day be king. In this act of humility, Jonathan was giving up his right to the throne.

Apart from God’s love and forgiveness, Jonathan’s friendship was the greatest gift David ever received. Many years later, even after the death of Jonathan, King David remembered his friendship and was faithful to care for the needs of his family.

As you come into contact with your friends this week, ask yourself if your friendships are committed to godliness. Like Jonathan, are you seeking companionships that encourage and strengthen your walk with the Lord? Are you seeking to be a godly friend to others just as David was to Jonathan? I encourage you to begin re-evaluating your friendships and to draw nearer to those who will help you to be conformed into the image of Christ.

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