When considering this assignment I knew almost immediately the “Hero” I most related to, was Jonathan. Jonathan was a curious young man, who was loyal to a fault at times. According to some of today’s standards Jonathan would be a fool. Primarily because he became best of friends with the man who would take the throne from his father, ending his families reign. He chose not care about being king, instead he chose to care more about his friend “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.” [1] This was a young man who allowed God to lead him knowing that the will of God was for David to be the next king. He willing gave up everything from his chance to rule all the way down to the clothes on his back. Another great thing about Jonathan was that he was willing to put his life on the line against his own father, knowing that Saul was out to kill David. He never turned his back on his friend, nor did he leave his home and his allegiance to his father. To some his loyalty may have been a weakness in my opinion it was a great strength.
In many ways I feel like I have been a Jonathan with two David’s in my life. I have called both of them my brothers and have given each of them the shirt off of my back literally. They each hold a special place in my life, one I have known since before my conversion to Christianity and the other helped lead me to Christ. Wendall and I go back to our teenage years; we did all most all of our dirt together. It is hard for either one of us to start a story from that era without mentioning the others name. I can recall a time when he and his girlfriend were having some issues with his ex and her family. We hoped in the car, while keeping an eye on his girlfriend while she was trying to leave her house. We were spotted by a family member and chased through one of the worst neighborhoods in the area. We would have gotten away except we got pinned in on a one way street, and the family members came up on us with weapons making threats. Now “B” and I were business partners. He helped lead me to the Lord. I was around for him when he needed someone on several occasions. I gave material possessions, a place to live when he moved back here from Atlanta. After awhile I began to surpass him spiritually and became an advisor to him. That was until he chose to reject my influence and walk a path I knew all too well, of alcohol dependence and self reliance. He ended our friendship on a sour note, but has since repented of his sins and recommitted to the Lord. After he turned his life back around he told me he can now see all I ever tried to do was love him according to Scripture.
In Courageous Faith, Dr. Hindson says “People need people. That’s what life is all about. God created us with a desire for personal relationships. Instead of avoiding people, we all need to learn how to reach out to people. Our words of encouragement, acts of kindness, and attitudes of acceptance communicate to people that we care about them.”(pg 175) I think we all have at least a little bit of Jonathan in us all. We can allow that to grow and become a stronger characteristic in our lives by stepping out of our comfort zones and living in someone else’s life. So how far are you willing to go to love someone else? Are you willing to deny what could or should be rightly yours to allow someone else the chance to live according to God’s will or are you going to fight it tooth and nail? Jonathan gave in and allowed God’s will to prevail which allowed us to have prophecy fulfilled that Messiah would come from the house of David, and sit on the throne forever.
[1]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Sa 18:1-4). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
