(1 Samuel 20:16,17 NLT) So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the LORD destroy all your enemies!” And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Jonathan and David had a God-ordained covenant relationship. Our text says that Jonathan “loved David as he loved himself.” Not only was Jonathan willing to concede the throne to David, but time after time he was willing to put his life on the line in order to save David’s. This friendship proved extremely valuable for David and it leads me to share a few words about friends.
David’s son, Solomon, later became the wisest man in the world during his time and he said, “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces” (Prov 13:20). The point being that your friends make an impact on you and vice-versa. My mother clearly understood this. She knew the perils of the environment I grew up in (Brooklyn, NY), so she daily told me, “Son, show me who you hang with and I will tell you who you are.” In other words, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” The people we choose to associate with says a great deal about us. Most people choose friends who have like interests, ambitions, character, and lifestyle. I know the term “friend” is used lightly today, but it should be reserved for those who can make positive deposits in our lives and vice-versa. Like the Jonathan-David relationship.
Having the right friends is awesome. We all need people to share our life experiences with. Everyone needs a Paul, or what Paul provided Timothy. This is a mentor, a guide, someone who already is where you want to be and who is willing to pour into you the things that they have learned along the way. Everyone needs a Timothy, or what Timothy provided for Paul. This is someone you can mentor, who wants to be where you already are, and who is willing to be poured into. This gives you an opportunity to pour out into someone else what has been poured into you. And finally, everyone needs a Jonathan, or what Jonathan provided for David. This is someone on equal par with you, someone to share life experiences with, someone you can sharpen and you can keep you sharp! Do you have all these in your life? If not, ask God to lead you to them. When you have God-ordained friends the Father can use them to help keep you on the course to His desired destination for your life!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Your friends matter: Show me your friends and I will show you your future. If you get to choose the people you call “friend,” then shouldn’t you choose wisely? Choose the right friends and they will help you live the right life.
2. Protect your anointing: If you value what God is doing in your life, then you will protect it by refusing to connect with those who may contaminate your anointing.
3. Select Godly mentors: Mentoring relationships are powerful. Mentors enable us to do much more than we can alone. Select your mentors wisely and grant them ‘right of passage;’ giving them access to speak into your life.
4. Follow the mentors in scripture: In addition to the Godly mentors you can and should have in the earth today, you can also be mentored by the heroes of the faith in scripture. Follow their example. Learn from their lives. Imitate their faith and patience and you too will be able to obtain the promises of God.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. Your Word is awesome and it applies to every area of my life. I declare, right now, that I have a Paul in my life. I have someone to look up to, who already is where I want to be, and who can pour into my life! I give them ‘right of passage’ to speak into my life, therefore I value their counsel. As You pour into me through them, I receive the impartation and it helps make me into the person You have destined me to be. I also have at least one Timothy in my life; a person who wants to be where I am. This person comes to me and You bless me to pour into them the things that have been poured into me. You have sent others to invest in me and You now send people for me to make investments into. I thank You Father for giving me covenant relationships that makes my life more enjoyable. And Father, I also have at least one Jonathan. This is my covenant brother; someone who is my peer, on my level, and who I can enjoy my life with. I am able to keep them sharp and they keep me sharp as well. By surrounding myself with the right people, who give me the right input, and who influence me in the right way, I become the right person and I am able to protect the anointing that is on my life. Thank You Father for blessing me to enjoy life with people who are pouring into me and people I can in turn pour into. I know I need others and others need me. I will be there for my friends and my friends will be there for me. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
