One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24

Truer words have never been penned as these – no man is an island. People who have chopped great feats and changed the course of history in life all had great support systems in other people. Be it friends, families or strangers. When Jesus walked the earth, he trained 12 disciples to carry on the message long after he is gone. Everyone needs that one person who would stand by them through thick and skin, 1 Samuel gives us a perfect example of how crucial good people can be to our purpose.

David was a shepherd, Jonathan was a prince and yet they forged a great friendship that was bounded by a covenant. When David became a member of Saul’s household and won many victories against the Philistines, he and Jonathan became close friends. After Saul jealously turned against David, Jonathan attempted to reconcile them, but he was only briefly successful. Saul tried to enlist Jonathan’s aid to kill David, but Jonathan remained David’s friend and warned him of Saul’s anger so that David hid. When the two met for the last time in the Wilderness of Ziph, they planned that David would be the next king of Israel and Jonathan his minister (1 Samuel 23:16–18).

We cannot stress how important it is to have good and supportive people on our side, supporting and urging us on to attain a feat and fulfill our earthly calling. The man who was attacked on his way to Damascus needed one Samaritan, Paul needed Timothy, David needed Jonathan, the list goes on and on. It is important that as Christians, we seek the face of God and ask for discernment, so we will not be unaware of our helpers and support systems. I pray that we will all get that one friend who will stick closer than a brother. In Jesus name, Amen.