“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
When you think of being your brother’s keeper, what or who do you think of? I think of the story of David and Jonathan & their friendship.
David and Jonathan came from two, very different backgrounds.
Jonathan came from a powerful family. All of his life he thought he knew what his calling and place in life would be. David was a shepherd, with little support or encouragement from his brothers and father. He probably imagined that he would be in the background his whole life, tending to the sheep.
They had very little in common, except for one thing; obedience. In order for Jonathan to do what God required of him, he had to step down. The way that he guarded David, went unnoticed by everyone except David. David on the other hand had to step out of his comfort zone. God didn’t make a mistake when he gave David and Jonathan their callings. He put them exactly where they needed to be. David’s life was spared because Jonathan had access to the kings table.
“And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?” 1 Samuel 20:9
God has given each one of us a very specific calling. We make the choice to step into the calling He has placed on our life. The Lord never forces us to do something, and if we choose not to walk in obedience, those around us may suffer.
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1
Have you ever been trying to walk in obedience with God’s will, and someone around you made it harder than it had to be? Jonathan could have chosen to walk in disobedience, and then David would have not been able to walk in obedience himself, as easily as he did. Those we surround ourselves with can make our lives easier or harder. Jonathan and David had an amazing friendship, not based on similar backgrounds, but based on their decision to walk in obedience to God. Saul hated David, the reason being that Saul was not obedient, and David was.
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
We are all members of the body of Christ, where there is obedience, the body is able to flourish, and when the opposite is happening, then the whole body suffers. Watching out for each other, choosing forgiveness instead of strife, can lead to harmony. Be a Jonathan in someone’s life, and surround yourself with people who walk in obedience.
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12
— Joy Morgan
