THE GREATEST MODEL OF FRIENDSHIP -- Devotional for September 18, from "Good Seeds"

NOTE TO READERS: I am behind a few days now, due to a music conference I attended on Friday and Saturday, where I was totally occupied and not able to write, other than take notes and take in wonderful information and inspiration at the Thriving Musicians Summit. The next few blogs will no doubt reflect out some of what shone into my soul these past few days. -- Steve

The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. He made a covenant with him by stripping himself of his robe and armor and weapons and presenting them to his friend. Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you ask, I will do for you.” (I Samuel 18:1,3,4; 20:4)

In the Bible we find powerful models of greatness: Moses was the greatest leader of all time. How many could match Noah, who more than any other “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). Noah also “walked with God” (verse 9), as did Enoch (5:22), and their great-granddaddy (and ours!) Adam! (3:8-10). When we think of faith, we think of Abraham. Daniel was great in prayer; David, in song. Job was the personification of patience. Paul stands unrivaled as a theologian, and also the greatest foreign missionary. Elijah and Stephen are tied for the most courageous, Peter as the most outrageous! The name Mary is associated with extreme worship (seen in four Mary’s of the New Testament). Joseph exemplified purity; Solomon, wisdom (though if you asked Jesus who was “the greatest man born of woman,” He would say John the Baptist – see Matthew 11:11). But now, what about friendship? We know Jesus as the Friend of Sinners, for Who could He possibly be speaking of besides Himself when He said, “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)? But of all others born of woman, there is probably no greater model of friendship than Jonathan. He was not a great friend because he had so many friends – indeed, we are told only of one, David. Friendship is never a question of quantity, but quality. In this age of the Internet, there is this networking tool called “Facebook,” which enables people to re-connect with old friends and make new ones. I’ve heard folks brag about how many friend connections they’ve made via their computer – in the thousands! But I’d rather hear the boasts of David and Jonathan, and pattern my friendships after theirs. Jesus taught us how to love God: with every ounce of our being. But how did He say to love our neighbor? “As ourselves” (Matthew 22:36-40). What a curious description of love! Wouldn’t silly love songs that say, “I will swim the deepest ocean and climb the highest mountain for you” sound sillier yet with, “oh and also: I will love you as much as I love myself”? And yet, this is the key ingredient to friendship, for “No man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it”(Ephesians 5:29). To love another like that, to do for him what you’d do for yourself, even at your own expense, is how one human soul is knit to another. Sounds like marriage, doesn’t it -- which is one of many wonderful ways to experience friendship.