Kurt Skelly emphasizes the power and importance of friendship, particularly in Bible college, noting that friendships will likely influence students more than their classes, and examines the friendship between David and Nathan as a model.
Scripture Text
2 Samuel 7:1-3; 2 Samuel 12:1-7
Main Points or Ideas
- Friends share spiritual desires - True friends are those with whom you can share your deepest, God-given desires and dreams for ministry, bound together by mutual love for God and His Word.
- Friends encourage godly pursuits - Like Nathan encouraging David's desire to build God a house, good friends say "go for it" when we have godly ambitions and serve as sources of encouragement rather than discouragement
- Friends clarify God's Word - God uses friends to help friends see their blind spots and understand His will, as Nathan clarified God's message to David about the temple
- Friends help friends see themselves - When friends fall into sin, true friends love enough to speak hard truths, as Nathan did when he confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba
Conclusion
We all need friends like Nathan who will encourage us spiritually, clarify God's Word in our lives, and lovingly confront us when necessary, while we should also strive to be that kind of friend to others.
