True Friend
True Friend
1 Samuel 23:15-18
15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had
come out to take his life. 16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh
and helped him find strength in God. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father
Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be
second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." 18 The two of them made a
covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
Who are the teenagers' heroes in these days? Probably their heroes are either
movie stars or sports heroes. It applies to Korean teenagers as well as all
over the world. Jang DongGun, who is a Korean movie star, is famous not only in
Korea but also in many other countries in the world. Which movie is the one
that put him in such a stardom? Many of you have seen the movie. The name of
the movie was "Friend". I have seen it a couple years ago because everyone was
talking about the movie at that time.
What was the point that the movie tried to make? Was it deep friendship that
they wanted to talk about? I am sure that every one of you have your own
definition of what friendship means to you. I think the reason why the movie
was so successful was because the points that the movie "Friend" tried to make
appeared to people. However, the friendship that was shown through the movie
was not so beautiful to me. That is because the love that was shown in the
movie was more likely a kind of love among the gangsters than brotherly love. I
don't think the friendship that was emphasized in the movie is idealistic love
among friends.
Our values and important things are changing as we grow. However, we realize
more as we get older how important it is to have true friends, who we can share
our thoughts, experiences, and ourselves. Most of us lost contact with our
friends we had when we were teenagers because of the business of our everyday
schedules. We can say it is a true blessing to have a true friend in our life
journey. There is a way to make such a friend. We must be a true friend to
others first in order to make one. Without taking that first step, it would not
be possible to be a true friend to others.
1 Samuel 23:15-18 teaches us the meaning of true friendship.
David had a true friend, who would have given up his own life for David; and his
name was Jonathan. He is a son of Saul and saved David life many times when his
father Saul planned to kill David with knowing that it would put himself in
extremely dangerous situations. Jonathan, however, was killed during the war
against Philistine. It hurt David tremendously and he express his sorrow in a
poem; and made everyone in Judah to sing the song for death of his friend.
David also took good care of family of Jonathan the rest of their lives.
Do you need a true and eternal friend? Then, who do you call a true and eternal
friend?
Who is Jonathan? He is a son of Saul, a prince and a war hero. But, above all,
he was a man with faith.
Through 1 Samuel 13 and 14, we can see how faithful Jonathan is. He won the
war by depending solely on God.
What kind of people your true friends are? Are they worldly? Do you just get
together and eat foods together and have fun? We all surely need some rest and
fellowship together; however, friendship has to be more than just that.
Who do you call as true friends?
First of all, they have to be faithful. Jonathan was a faithful man. Let's
read the verse 16. It says that "And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at
Horesh and helped him find strength in God." He advised David to depend on God
not anything belong to the world. That is how a true friend supposed to be.
Walk together in God.
There were two kids, named Paul and Daniel, in a small town. They were friends
who played together, went to same middle school and high school, and went to the
same church and served others. They both were a good friend to each other.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam War started and they both went to the war. They both
were in a very dangerous task together. A helicopter was waiting for them to
finish their mission in the middle of jungle. They were ready to pick them up
and take them out of the place as soon as they finish the work. After completed
the mission, Paul looks for Daniel but he did not find him anywhere. Paul
turned around and headed to the jungle to find Daniel even though others were
waiting for them and they had only 30 minutes left. At that moment, the leader
of that mission took his gun out and aimed at Paul. He told Paul to get in the
helicopter otherwise he had to shoot him. Paul, however, turned around and run
towards the jungle to find his friend. A l
ittle while later, Paul came back with carrying Daniel's dead body. The leader
told Paul that "I told you that you should not go back there risking your own
life along with the rest of us. See, Daniel is already dead." Paul replied
that " No, sir. Daniel was still alive when I found him. And he told me that
he knew that I would have came there to find him because we are true friend in
God."
Trust...That maybe the most valuable in a friendship; and it is more valuable if
they trust each other in God.
Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and foreigners. He loved them in God and
died for them. I hope all of you could be friends who can be trusted by your
friends.
Second of all, true friends share happy moments as well as sad moments together.
Let's read Proverbs 17:17. It says that "A friend loves at all times, and a
brother is born for a time of adversity."
The true friendship should be unchangeable. It means that they help their
friends when they go through hard times.
You should be there for your friend when he or she needs you the most, not only
for the happy times.
Third, true friends encourage each other. Let's read the verse 16 again. It
says that "And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find
strength in God."
The true friend go to the other who experiences pain and go through some kind of
temptation; should pray for them, encourage them, console them and be there for
them.
Many were asking me about our church and congregation when I visited RTS
University in Missisiphy last year.
I said that everyone in the church is working hard and we have a hope. Everyone
encourages each other and walk together towards a new hope.
One of those pastors asked me that "How is the congregation in that church?"
And I said that "They all are like angels to me." Don't you agree?
The bible says that we are true friends in Jesus. It is really the time for all
of us to be one; and become a true friend to others. When we become a true
friend to others, it will want them to accept God as their savior.
The last, we all always need to remember that Jesus is a perfect example of a
true friend. It is very important to know that there is no one who can be a
better friend than Jesus to us. Be a true friend with Jesus Christ who died on
the cross for you.
It is really easy and simple to become His true friend. Just have a faith in
Him and follow Him. Look, who is right next you? Can't you see?