The Value Of Friends

Jonathan… loved [David] as he loved his own soul. – 1 Samuel 20:17


John Chrysostom (347-407) was one of the great preachers in the early church. He was given the name Chrysostom, which means “golden-mouthed,” because of his eloquent sermons.

Here is one of his insight on the value of friends: “Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as… flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell. With friends even poverty is pleasant… It would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends.”

The story of Jonathan and David illustrates the value of friendship. Though David was haunted by the demented King Saul, he drew encouragement from his friendship with Saul’s son.. “Jonathan… loved [David] as he loved his own soul” (1 Sam. 20:17). Their relationship was characterized by trust, understanding, and encouragement. How difficult it would have been for David to endure this unjust persecution without the nourishment of friendship based in the Lord (v.42).

The ancient voice of Chrysostom and the witness of David and Jonathan are reminders of the need to nurture the relationships God has given us. – Dennis Fisher


Since I have no gold to give,
And love alone must make amends,
My daily prayer is while I live –
“God, make me worthy of my friends.” – Sherman

A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.

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1 Samuel 20:12-17

Jonathan said to David, Yahweh, the God of Israel, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?

Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace: and Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.

You shall not only while yet I live show me the loving kindness of Yahweh, that I not die; but also you shall not cut off you kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off the enemies of David everyone from the surface of the earth.

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies. Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

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A friend is most need after God when we are not with our family...