1 Samuel 20

FAITHFUL FRIENDS

Opening Illustration
Two men were out hunting in the northern US when suddenly a grizzly bear came charging towards them. The first man started frantically putting on his sneakers. The second man anxiously asked, ‘what are you doing? Don’t you know that you can’t outrun a grizzly bear?’ The first man replied, ‘I don’t have to outrun the grizzly bear, I have to outrun YOU!’

Not the kind of friend you want in hard times
Ecc. 4:9-10
1 Samuel 20

What makes a great friend?

Faithful
Resolute
Ingenuous
Emotional
Near
Defender
Selfless

Faithful
1. David went to Jonathon in his darkest hours v. 1
2. Contest winner of ‘define friend contest’ said ‘ a real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.’

Resolute
1. Having decided purpose, fixed in determination
2. Jonathon was willing to do whatever David asked v. 2-4

Ingenuous
1. Straightforward, frank, not hiding anything
2. Jonathon told David everything he needed to know v. 5-16
3. True friendship happens when you’re totally honest with someone and they like you anyways

Emotional
1. Jonathon loved David as he loved himself v. 17, 34, 41
2. True friendship improves happiness and abates misery by doubling our joy and dividing our grief

Near
1. Jonathon was available and put himself on the line v. 18-29
2. Pee Wee Reese was there for Jackie Robinson

Defender
1. Jonathon stood up for David v. 30-33
2. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends (Martin Luther King Jr)

Selfless
1. Jonathon let go and did what was best for David v. 34-42
2. Those who live in the Lord NEVER see each other for the last time