1 Samuel 18:1-3 (NKJV)
18 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Jonathan and David were more like brothers than friends. In 1 Samuel 18, it tells us that their souls were knit together and Jonathan loved David as himself. Jesus told us to love your neighbor as yourself. David and Jonathan had that kind of love. Everyone wants to have a real friend like that, don’t they? I know I do. In fact, I had such a friend in Carmen for many years until his passing.
Have you ever gone to camp with kids you don’t know? There you were in a place with all new kids wondering if anyone will like you? When you are little, it is very scary. But it is even a factor when you grow up. We all still wonder if people will like us. But what if they don’t? Not everyone will like us. I heard an interesting statistic. 25% of people will never like you. 25% of people will not like you but can be convinced to like you. 25% of people will like you but can be convinced not to like you. 25% of people will like you no matter what and all that is OK. Not everyone was destined to like you. What is important is that God loves you and you need to love yourself. Bernice Lopez (a friend I met with today) says “That’s OK. I love myself enough for the both of us.” You certainly should feel that way even if you are not willing to tell them. Love you! God already does! You are His masterpiece! All the rest comes later.
Zig Ziglar said “When you go out looking for friends they are hard to find; When you go out to be a friend, you will find friends everywhere!” So if you are concerned about being liked or finding friends, go out looking for others who may feel the same way and be a friend to them instead. When you focus outside yourself, God will send you all you need. He will bring others to you. I saw that happen today during Vacation Bible School. One young man was anxious about finding a friend. Another decided to be that friend. It was awesome! Thank You Lord!
Father, help us to let Your Spirit shine out from us so that others will be drawn to us. Let us share Your love with those we meet. Help us to become a friend to those who need a friend. And in that process, let us find friends with whom we can be a comfort to each other. Let Your light in us and Your light in them shine together to brighten our corners of the world. In your name we pray! Amen!