God Hears Herಮಾದರಿ

My Friends and I

“Such is friendship, for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell” John Chrysostom (347–407).

Jonathan and David illustrate the sweetness of a true friendship. Theirs was an immediate bond (1 Samuel 18:1), and they kept their friendship alive through loyalty (18:3; 20:16, 42; 23:18), and by nurturing it through expressions of concern. Jonathan gave gifts to David (18:4) and watched out for him in many difficulties (19:1–2; 20:12–13).

In 1 Samuel 23:16, we see the highest moment of their friendship. When David was a fugitive from Jonathan’s father, “Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God” (NKJV). Friends help you find strength in God during life’s low points.

In a world where many relationships are about what we can get, let us be the type of friends who focus on what we can give. Remember, “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). —Poh Fang