How To Glorify God With Your Friendships

It has been well said, 'show me your friends and I'll show you your future'. Now for sure, the idea can be overstated, but certainly, our friendships have a greater impact on us than we usually care to admit. For, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20). How important it is then we give our friendships serious thought! One Biblical example worthy of consideration is David and Jonathan. From their model, here are three ways we can learn to glorify God with our friendships.

C.S Lewis said that "friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!" So it was for these two men of God! Our first point is that David and Jonathan's friendship was grounded in a mutual faith in God. Unlike Saul, Jonathan had the godly characteristics of a man suitable to reign as king in his father's place. For example, in 1 Samuel 14:6, Jonathan and his armour bearer win a small victory against the Philistines all alone, saying: "perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few." Jonathan's faith was such that when he witnessed David as a youth deliver the nation from Goliath, their friendship blossomed. The deepest of friendships are those which are founded in common faith and love for Christ. So make Him the locus and heartbeat of your relationships, and like Jonathan, seek out such people to befriend (Proverbs 17:17).

The second friendship lesson concerns self-sacrifice. As heir to the throne, Jonathan was groomed to rule Israel. But after witnessing God's deliverance of Israel through David, he soon acknowledged God had chosen David. We read, "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." (1 Samuel 18:3–4). At great personal cost, Jonathan humbled himself in recognition of the true anointed king. Sinners that we are, we will often fail this important aspect of friendship. But by God's grace, may we strive to have a servant attitude toward one another in Christ, especially close friends. Jesus modelled the Christian's calling to servitude as He, though truly God, in concealing divinity in human flesh became the servant and saviour of man. "Have this mind among yourselves." (Philippians 2:5).

The final point is that of friendship which seeks to encourage one another in God. We read, "David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life… and Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God." (1 Samuel 23:15–16). A little encouragement can go a long way. And in David's need, Jonathan came to encourage him. How desperately do we need such friends as we negotiate life's hardships and let-downs! What a pattern this leaves us with to exemplify! In Christ's strength, may we each seek to be godly influences on our friends; be it a word in season, or prayer in times of testing. "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

David and Jonathan leave a Biblical pattern on how to glorify God in our friendship's, are we seeking the same?