The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-09-15

L
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Cost of Being Friend.
Without question, the most pre-
cious possession any man or woman
has (apart from his fellowship with
God if he is a Christian, and the
love of his own family is friend
ship. 1t is the flower that blooms
by the side of the rugged pathway
of life. Like many flowers, some
friendships need to be cultivated
and encouraged.
1t has been said that the love of
a woman for another woman is a
beautiful thing, the love of a man
for woman an even more devoted
and precious thing, but that the
bond of love between man and man
surpasses all in its strength and
glory. Some might question such a
statement, and yet it is true that
between man and man there is
the possibility of the highest type
of friendship. David and Jonathan
stand at the head of an inspiring
list of men who loved each other
with their whole souls.
The lesson for today calls for
careful reading of the incidents in
the life of Jonathan and David re-
corded in I Samuel, chapters IA, Is,
10, and 20, as well as the first chap
ter of II Samuel. 1t is story which
will richly reward careful read
ing. Considering the printed portion
in the light of this background we
note six things that characterized
this great friendship.
/. Cultivated ". ~.
Friendships must be except in re-
pair" Foolish and almost wicked
is that man who by boorishly Of
Tending his fellowmen, or by
neglecting the thoughtful words and
acts that cultivate friendship, drives
men away from him. "He that
hath friends must show himself
friendly" prov. 1929. Consider
the admonition of our Lord in Luke
1873, 9, where he urges the righteous
use of even our worldly possessions
to cultivate eternal friendships.
Read what Jonathan did in Sam.
1885, only one of his many loving
and thoughtful acts.
ii. Courteous ". 81.
David asked that Jonathan deal
kindly with him, and the entire
story reveals that he did just that,
always. More friendships are
wrecked on the rocks of little dis
courtesies than in almost any other
way.
We live in an age which affects an
outward veneer of culture but which
is at heart often thoughtless and I'M
kind. Let Christian men and women
be courteous. They should be as
followers of the gentle Jesus, and it
will bring them countless friends.
III. Candid ". 81.
Friendships that last must be
built on absolute candor, not the
kind that delights in telling an I'M
pleasant truth, but one which
speaks the truth in love. Jonathan
told David the truth.
~. Courageous wv. II, 13).
Jonathan was such a faithful son
that when the time of parting came
he stayed with his wicked father
rather than go with David, whom
he loved. But he was true to David
even though he knew it would incur
the wrath of his father if that friend
ship became known.
Things that cost us nothing are
usually worth it." Real friend
ship calls for sacrifice, standing by
in the night hours, sharing burdens,
loyal even though others may con-
denim us for it.
V. Covenant Keeping wv. 16, ~.
Covenants entered into by solemn
treaties in our time are soon dis
carded as scraps of paper" People
make promises to one another that
they never intend to fulfill. Jonathan
and David made a covenant and
kept it. True friends do not violate
their loving agreements.
This matter of trickery and false
hood in life and business is one that
deeply troubles the writer of these
notes. He sees unmistakable evil
dence that this perverse spirit has
come into the precincts of the
church itself. We should have a re-
vival of honesty in office, home,
state, and church.
vi CC,,1nIata *, ny
'He loved him as he loved his
own soul''-such a friend was JON
athan. His devotion to David had
no qualifying strings" on it. He
was not seeking something for him
self. The closest he came to that
was to bring his children into the
covenant with David ". 15), and
who could question the, prorriety of
such devotion between true friends?
He saw that David was TO supplant
Saul as king, and in the face of his
own interest as Sauls son, he put
David forward.
Friendship is akin to our relation
ship to God in that it calls for a
complete giving of ourselves, if we
are to be true friends. This does
not mean that individuality is lost.
or special interests and abilities de-
stroyed, but it does mean a whole
souled desire for our friends well
fare, and a complete devotion of
our all to his good.