I can’t imagine any deeper demonstration of friendship than one who puts your good over their own and who promotes your welfare even if it demotes their own. Jonathan’s friendship with David was such a friendship. The scripture says; “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1).

Jonathan was the son of King Saul so was the legitimate heir to the throne of Israel. But Jonathan realized that God had chosen David to be the next king so he laid down his own future to protect him, even from his own father who was out to kill David. Jonathan would have given his life for his friend.

At the heart of friendship is selflessness instead of selfishness. That’s a hard concept for the “ME” generation. What is in it for me? How will this friendship promote my career? Is this friend going to help me break into that social circle? Who does this friend know that I’d like to know? People don’t usually admit such things out loud but what if motives ran like ticker tapes across our foreheads?

If a person has only one true friend in a lifetime it is a precious treasure. Real friends are rare. Do you have one? Here’s a better question: are YOU a real friend to someone else? Could you put aside what was best for yourself like Jonathan did in order to do what was best for your friend? Looking for the heart of friendship? Look no further than your very own heart.