Wednesday, March 14, 2007 - Work Principles From King David – Part 2
Have you ever tried to be the Lone Ranger and do everything on your own, refusing to accept or seek help from others? Sometimes we get the mistaken idea that we have to prove we are able to do it ourselves! Reminds me of children at ages two and three who are discovering their independence, and some of their first sentences are "I can do it myself!"
None of us can do it ourselves. We need the Lord, and we need each other. The Body of Christ is designed to be a support system for believers, where we encourage and help each other as needed. In looking at the life of King David, another principle we learn is
Principle #8: We all need help and encouragement.
Shortly after David is catapulted into fame because he killed Goliath, Jonathan and he become best friends. It was an unlikely friendship, since Jonathan was the son of Saul and by all accounts, should have been considered next in line to the throne. Yet he and David became one in spirit and they made a covenant to be there for each other.
The friendship of David and Jonathan is legendary. What a wonderful gift at just the right moment. David needed a good friend. His brothers weren’t going to fill that role for him; that was obvious in the way they treated him when he faced Goliath. He needed someone he could completely trust; a confidant and counselor.
Even though David was strong and brave and successful, he still needed a friend. We all need friends. God created us to need each other. He intends for us to support each other and be there for each other. Friendships are a gift from God.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Friendships should make us better. Do you have friends who inspire you to do more and be more? Who encourage you and cheer you on? Are you that kind of friend to others?
If you’re trying to be the Lone Ranger, or perhaps shyness or fear keeps you from forming close friendships, I would strongly urge you to pray that God will help you break that pattern and bring one close good friend into your life. Not just anyone, but someone who will spur you on in your faith journey, one who will lift you up not bring you down.
And remember–if we want to have a friend, we must be a friend. We reap what we sow, so if you need a friend, sow friendship in the life of someone else. Give your time and love and help to someone else, and it will come back to you.
No matter how busy we are or how strong we are or how successful we are or how independent we are, we all need help and encouragement, just like David did.
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