1 Samuel 18:1-4 & 1 Samuel 20: Never Had A Friend Like Me

What makes a good friend?

Story of Haitan kids on a plan

This is how we often are inclined to treat others

Slap your sister… oops

Often, it isn’t just simply our siblings when we are six. It’s cute then… not so much when we get older.

Friendships are no different. We can be inclined to mistreat our friends

sarcasm (can be innocent)

backstabbers

white lies, etc

What does a true friend look like?

Background about Jonathan, Saul’s son

1 Samuel 18: 1-4

1 Samuel 18:1–4 CSB

When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself. Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house. Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

loved him as much as himself

what does it mean to love someone as much as yourself?

what does it mean to love yourself?

you may not like all the things about yourself all the time

but you seek to maximize your happiness

you also seek to minimize your suffering

a good friend is a comforter, a companion to celebrate things with, a helper, an encourager, etc

1 Samuel 20

Jonathan sought after David’s well being as fiercely as he sought after his own… if not even more fierce

even when it was dangerous for Jonathan, he was looking after David and his well-being

Jonathan was truthful with David, even when it was painful

The trouble with white lies

outright lying to them

Here’s the sad thing… Jonathan wouldn’t live much longer. He would be killed in a battle against the Philistines

His dad, Saul, would also soon die

David would live on, but without Jonathan

It was a glimpse of a great friendship

it was a shadow of what would one day come because of Jesus

Jesus, the greatest example of a good friend

John 15:12–15 CSB

“This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.

Look at all Jesus did

now… you may never truly die for your friends

But we can switch our focus off of what we get out of our friendships and onto what we put into them

Selfie mode vs. camera mode … what is your focus?

We are compelled and empowered by how Jesus lived and died… to do likewise. To do as He did.

We don’t live our lives for self-preservation or self-glorification. We live our lives to set others free

Its good to do something for others. It is better to give than receive

Gospel story… it is truly better to give than receive. This truth overflows into all other areas of life, including friendships

In what ways do you struggle to be a good friend?

What does it mean to love others as yourself?

How was Jesus the greatest Friend to ever live?

What can you do beginning today to be a better friend?