We all have friends. Some of our friends are closer to us than others. We associate with all of them, but some of them we will tell our secrets to. So, who is that friend that you are thinking of right now? Who is the friend closest to you? It may be someone from your childhood. It could be your spouse. Maybe a child or parent.
David, the second king of Israel, had a friend. His name was Jonathan. Jonathan was the son of Saul, the first king of Israel. They had a friendship that was strong. We read in 1 Samuel 18:1-4, “Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.” (NASB) Perhaps the friend that you have is this close that you have a great deal of love for one another.
King Saul would try to kill David. His jealousy of David caused him to desire to take his life. When David realizes this, he tells Jonathan. They work out a plan that Jonathan would find out if the king really wanted him dead. If he did, he would warn him. Jonathan did this, found out the king did indeed want David destroyed, and he warned David and he left. I’m sure that was a hard thing for Him to do, but they would never see each other again as Jonathan was killed in battle.
Jesus began His ministry and chose twelve men, apostles, to be with Him. Of these twelve He had three that were with Him on occasions when the others were not. These men were Peter, James and John. Before His death Jesus met with all of His Apostles and told them, “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” John 15:14
Today it is important to have friends. But it is even more important to make sure that we are the friend of God. James tells us, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
We cannot be the friend of the world and God at the same time. We must choose. I choose to be a friend to God, and I hope you do as well. But as Jesus told the apostles, you are My friends if you keep My commandments. Let’s make sure we are pleasing our Lord in everything we do, Colossians 3:17. As we do, we will be friends.