Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne of his father, Saul, but David had been called by God to succeed Saul as Israel’s next king. From day one, they were on a collision course. They had everything to lose by becoming friends, because ultimately only one of them could reign. So how did they handle it? Were they competitive, or suspicious, or jealous of one another? No, because neither was interested in promoting himself. The Bible says, ‘Jonathan made a solemn pact with David…by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt’ (1 Samuel 18:3-4 NLT). These were his most treasured personal possessions. He was willing to risk his life for David despite his father Saul’s warnings that Jonathan’s throne would never be established as long as David was alive (see 1 Samuel 20:31). Likewise, David jeopardised his life fighting the Philistines to help Saul and Jonathan establish their kingdom. The point of the story is this: a true friend is ‘there for you’, even when they would rather be somewhere else. As one celebrity said, ‘Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.’ Solomon said, ‘A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.’ When was the last time you thanked God for the true friends in your life? What is it that makes them so special? Don’t assume they know how much you appreciate them. Tell them! And one more thought: if you want to have true friends – become one!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.