23 March | Teens
«And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.» 1 Samuel 20: 42
If there's one thing that's wonderful in our lives, it's friendship. And if there's a famous biblical story about friendship, it's this: the story of David and Jonathan. It shows one of the most beautiful examples of true friendship that we find in the entire Bible. They had everything to be rivals: Jonathan was the son of King Saul, and David had been anointed to be the next king of Israel. But instead of envy and competition, a deep and loyal friendship was born between them.
Jonathan knew that David would be the next king, even though that meant that he himself would never occupy the throne. Rather than feeling threatened, Jonathan chose to support and protect David, even when his father, Saul, wanted to kill him. Their friendship was based on trust, mutual respect and a commitment to caring for each other, above their own ambitions or safety.
History shows us how true friendship knows no envy or competition. It seeks the best for the other, even if it costs personal sacrifices. Jonathan and David pledged to care not only for each other but also for their families, regardless of what the future held. And you, how have you been taking care of your friendships?
Take Action
With a friend, make a “friendship time capsule” together. Write letters to each other, talking about your hopes and dreams for the future, and some reasons why you are grateful for the friendship you share. Put the cards in a box and decide on a date in the future to open the capsule and remember the value of this true friendship.