Sometimes
friendships end abruptly, however, like a blown-out candle. This usually
happens when buddies have a disagreement and they say or do things they can’t
take back.
Family relationships sometimes are like a
flashlight. They will stay lit all your life if the batteries are kept charged
or renewed (and this includes a marriage).
God’s love is like the sun, which
keeps shining and warming the earth whether the skies are cloudy or blue. In
the same way, God will never stop loving us.
Solomon
wrote, “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17); “A man who has friends
must himself be friendly” (Proverbs 18:24).
Friends usually start with
a friendly greeting and a conversation. Sometimes friendships begin with just a
smile.
Jesus
was accused of being a friend of publicans and sinners, but in reality, his
closest friends were his disciples. Yes,
he did go to Zacchaeus’s house, but Zacchaeus already had decided to follow
Jesus. He showed Mary Magdalene
compassion and friendship, but she already had repented of her sins when she
wet Jesus’ feet with her tears. He talked to the woman at the well, who
received with joy the news that he was the Messiah. Jesus told the woman to go
and sin no more.
The Bible tells about the friendship of David
and Jonathan. Jonathan was full of
faith, like David. The Philistine Army
challenged Jonathan just as the Philistine Giant later challenged Israel’s Army
to a fight.
David
and Jonathan met right after David slew Goliath.
The
Bible says there was an immediate bond of love between them, and they became
best friends. Jonathan made a special
vow to be David’s friend, and he sealed the pact by giving David his robe,
tunic, sword, bow and belt” (1 Samuel 18:1-4).
David
married Jonathan’s sister, Michal, but King Saul, Jonathan’s father was jealous
of David and hated him. He tried several
times to kill David.
On
one occasion, Jonathan saved David’s life.
Jonathan once said he loved David as much as he loved himself (1 Samuel
20:16).
King
Saul wanted Jonathan to be the next king, but David already had been anointed
king. God rejected Saul because of his rebellion. Jonathan, who was likely to follow his
father, apparently had no desire to be king, although he was a mighty warrior.
Jonathan
was killed on the battlefield fighting the Amalekites, another nation like the
Philistines, alongside his father.
Afterward David wrote a funeral song (2 Samuel 1) where
he mourns Jonathan.
“How
I weep for you, my brother, Jonathan!” he sang in sadness.
David
had a wonderful friend in Jonathan. But sometimes
friends can be a bad influence.
David’s son, Solomon, warned his son about
unwholesome friends. In Proverbs 1:10-19 he wrote, “My son, if sinners entice
you, do not give in to them.”
One time I asked a class of children to write down the names of people
they would like for a friend. Then they wrote their own name and glued it
facing the other names. When it drie and they tried to tear them apart, they
discovered a little of their name was left on the others, and theirs were left
with theirs. Likewise, we leave a
little of ourselves with every friend we make, and they leave a part of
themselves with us. Good friends make us better. Bad friends can influence us in a bad way.
But good friends are great! Is there someone you
would like for a friend? Pray this week
God will help you to show yourself friendly.
Then decide to call this person on the phone, plan to meet for lunch or
for an evening at your house.
Friends are
priceless..
© Copyright Ada Brownell
