Many times, we ask God to give us good friends. Friends who will stand by us like family. But we often forget the other side of the coin, that we must also be the kind of friend we desire to have. We should be willing to give the same love, support, and commitment we hope to receive from others.
Whenever I look at the lives of Jonathan and David, I am amazed by the kind of man Jonathan was and the heart he had for David. Jonathan loved David as himself. He consistently went against his father's wishes to ensure David's safety. What kind of friend would do such a thing? A friend who was not consumed by personal ambition, a friend who was not threatened by the fact that he would not be the next king, and a friend who could genuinely love another person without allowing the possibility of losing something to stand in the way.
Jonathan understood that David's safety mattered more than his own ambition. He was willing to do whatever David asked if it would give him peace concerning his father's intentions to harm him.
In 1 Samuel 20:4 (ESV), Jonathan said to David:
“Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Whatever you say, I will do for you.’”
What a heart of commitment! Jonathan was willing to stand with David even when doing so was not in his personal interest.
We also see Jonathan initiate a covenant with David in 1 Samuel 18:3–4 (ESV):
“Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.”
“And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.”
These verses speak volumes about Jonathan's character. He recognised that God's hand was upon David, and he was willing to honour God's purpose rather than allow personal ambition to stand in its way.
Jonathan's decision to give David his royal robe, weapons, and other personal belongings was a significant gesture. The royal robe, known in Hebrew as the me'il, was a symbol of his status. By giving these items to David, Jonathan demonstrated his willingness to stand with him.
Although the text does not explicitly state that this act was a prophetic declaration of David's kingship, it is a powerful picture of Jonathan's willingness to put his friendship and God's purposes above his own ambitions.
What manner of friend was Jonathan!
Imagine being willing to support someone whom you know may eventually occupy the position you could have inherited. Jonathan was the son of King Saul and, by human expectation, could have aspired to the throne. Yet, he did not allow the prospect of David becoming king to destroy their friendship.
It is important to have good friends, but it is even more important that we become good friends to others. We often pray for people who will stand by us, encourage us, support us, and remain loyal to us. But are we willing to offer these same things to the people God has placed in our lives?
Do not build friendships solely around what you think you can gain from people today. What you can see or gain from someone now may not be the full picture of what God is doing in their lives. You may not even begin to understand the significance of that friendship for years to come.
So, what should you do?
Be a good friend.
Ask the Holy Spirit to work in your heart and transform you into the kind of person who can love genuinely, support others sincerely, celebrate their progress without envy, and remain faithful even when there is nothing immediate to gain.
Remember, “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
May God not only give us friends like Jonathan but also make us friends like Jonathan—people who love sincerely, honour God's purposes, and put the well-being of others above selfish ambition.
Have a pleasant day!
Stay Revived!
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