Seek FirstSample

Seek First in Friendship

Imagine if your best friend was hiding in the desert because your dad, the king, was trying to kill him?

His crime? God has called him to become King instead of you!

What would you do?

We read in 1 Samuel about how Jonathan found himself in this position. His response was to track down his friend and give up his crown for him and assure him that he would not be killed.

It’s easy to think of friendship as what you have in common with your friends or what they can do for you. Friendship in the Bible, however, does not always look like this. It requires selflessness, truly loving your friend as you love yourself. Jesus went as far as to say that true friendship looks like being ready to lay your life down, which he did for us so we can be free and forgiven.

What does this look like for us?

Perhaps putting ego aside and “chasing” after that friend who has ghosted us. Giving up something we want so we can let our friend have it. Backing your friend to do something you’re passionate about, even if it means they end up “doing better” than you.

God did not create us to be isolated; friendships are good, and he desires them for us. By seeking him first, he can shape us and our friendships to become more like him.

Questions

Is there a friend who you can be like Jonathan to?

Do your friendships serve you first?

When you have conflict in your friendships, what is your first response and is this led by love?

Prayer

Lord, we pray that you may give us a heart like yours and teach us to love and show up for our friends the way you would like us to. We pray that we may be led by your love and not our immediate feelings and emotions. Amen.