Relationships Part 2: True Friends

So we're created for relationships right? Not just with God and our families but with each other, you and I, me and the person down the street, you and the person sitting next to you, with strangers: which are basically people you don't know that aren't family related but have the potential to becoming closer than family. This part on relationships is about friendships, not just acquaintances or people you hang out with that are near you, but true friendships, friends that stick by you through thick and thin, friends that "love" each other. Whoa, hold on there, "love" each other? Isn't that kind of gay? That is the number one response you will get when you say you love your friend, well if you're a guy and you say you love your guy friend. I mean right now you're probably thinking this is gay talk. But it's not, it's something entirely different, entirely biblical, and entirely forgotten by this world. God wants us to have true friendships with each other, whether it be from 10 to only 4 people, He wants us to have these relationships with each other because it is how we grow in Him, it is how we are encouraged, it is how we are loved. To really open up to people, to be able to be vulnerable about your problems to someone without them turning their back, and having them care and look out for you is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. It is also comforting to know that you have someone there that is always going to be there for you, that is also going to help you or just laugh with you, to have someone love you in a sisterly and brotherly kind of way; in a Godly way. There are numerous examples such as the friendships of the 12 disciples, Moses and Aaron, Jesus and everyone he met, Lazarus and Jesus, Paul and Timothy, David and Jonathan. The friendship I'll be focusing on today is David and Jonathan's.

There friendship can be found in 1 Samuel 18-31. David, is Jesse's son, a Shepard's son. Someone who did not have a lot of wealth nor status. Jonathan was Saul's son, the Prince of all Israel someone of great wealth and status. They first met in Chapter 18 right after David slays Goliath, the infamous bible story. I think this is one is just as awesome. Now it says in Chapter 18 verse 1, "Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Whoa, talk about close. That was this says they became close that "Jonathan loved him as his own soul". Now I bet it took a lot to time for them to get that close but it doesn't really say how long, but I don't think that part matters. The main point is that theses guys loved each other and were the best of friends, true friends to one another. The story continues with Israel still at war with the Philistines with both David and Jonathan fighting under Saul's banner. But due to David's expert war abilities and noble heart he gained favor among the Israelites and was reigned as a hero, more so than Saul, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."- Chapter 18: 7. Now being the arrogant king Saul was he became of jealous of David, to the point that he wanted to kill David. Now there are several messages in this story you can take out of it like the danger of jealous, coveting something that is not yours, arrogance can lead to harm, etc. but I'm focusing on the relationships of Jonathan and David. So, Saul sought out to kill David, first tried to bribe him but now sought to kill him. Now Jonathan stood by his friend seeing that his father has become evil and was no longer with the Lord. He risked his own life to save his friend's. He helped David escape to Philistine so that David may live. Now here is what is said about their goodbye, because they would never see each other again alive, "As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so." Chapter 20:41 Now I don't think I would kiss any of my friends but back then it was custom to do so, same with the bowing thing. But they wept together. These guys were never going to see each other and they were closer than brothers so they wept, they were in despair. I mean, their friendship meant so much to them that it caused a wave of tears to come down. That's the kind of true friendship that we were meant to have. Maybe not cry in front of one another but it is definitely close, and emotional. The story goes on, it's very interesting, but the last point I want to make is that Saul and Jonathan die together in war against the Philistines who is then defeated by David later on. But when David had learned of his friend's death he mourned, all of Israel mourned for a long period of time. It was like losing a part of yourself. It's a great story of love and friendship, and I encourage you to read it.

So David and Jonathan loved each other like they were family. In this case they were closer than family. Does that mean true friendship replace family ones? No, it is something completely different and just as fulfilling. I never knew what it was like to have "true friendships" nor what it was like to be close to anyone like I was with my family. As displayed in my other post, I'm really close to my family and didn't need anything else. Well, I was wrong, dead wrong. I didn't know what it was like to be close to someone, to be loved and cared for someone that wasn't a family member. It's great though to have that, to have true friends there to just have fun with, to grow in Christ with and to be there when I'm struggling. I thank God for both my family relationships and my true friendships. I have grown in Him through both, so much. I can't imagine living any other way. So, here's what I'm saying to you. It's okay to be personal with someone, it's okay to be close to someone, to be vulnerable in front of your friend. It's okay to open up to them because what you will gain is a true friendship one that is like David and Jonathan's one that is of love, support, fun: is of God. It's incredibly rewarding and fulfilling to have that.