Be Devoted to One Another, Part 2

Romans 12:10 says, Be devoted to one another in love. Christians show that they are sincerely living for God through Christ by being devoted to one another in love.

Devotion is one of those things that is easier seen than explained. So instead of trying to explain it, let me show you a picture of it. After all, there is a reason that we say a picture is worth a thousand words. A great picture of this devotion is seen in the relationship between Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel. Jonathan’s devotion towards David is first illustrated for us in 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NIV).

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

Jonathan’s devotion to David is seen in that,

1. They were one in spirit. They were united together. Psalms 133:1 (ESV) says, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. As Christians we are called to be united to one another. Jesus prayed specifically for this in John 17:22-23 (NIV) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Paul says in Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Being devoted to one another means treasuring the unity that we have in Christ.
2. He loved him as he loved himself. Being devoted to one another means loving your neighbor as yourself.
3. He made a covenant with David. He vowed to always be David’s friend. Devotion implies commitment. Being devoted to one another means that we promise that we will be there for each other no matter what, no matter how difficult things might become.
4. He gave him his robe, tunic, sword, and belt. These were the things that distinguished Jonathan as the crown prince of Israel and next in line to his father’s throne. In giving these to David, Jonathan was bestowing on him the highest honor a prince could give one of his subjects. His devotion to David made him want to lift him up, even above himself. Being devoted means relating to one another out of a spirit of humility. Being humble does not mean thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less and thinking more about the needs of others. Paul says it like this in Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV), Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.

So being devoted to one another means treasuring the unity we have in Christ, loving each other as we love ourselves, being committed to each other, and in humility valuing others above ourselves.

That is what devotion is, but what does devotion look like in action? Seeing David as a threat to his throne, the throne that he wanted to see passed to Jonathan, Saul attempted to assassinate David. But David escapes Saul’s grasp and ran to find Jonathan and ask him for help. In chapter 20 we see Jonathan’s devotion play out in the following ways:

1. He was willing to help David. 1 Samuel 20:4 (NIV) Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you. David was in deep trouble. Any help that Jonathan gave him would be costly because the source of the trouble was the king and his father. Yet he responds, Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.
2. His devotion to David superseded his devotion to his family. 1 Samuel 20:13 (NIV), if my father intends to harm you, may the LORD deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. Jonathan’s devotion in the Lord to David superseded his devotion to his family. The fifth commandment, honor your father and your mother, necessitates great devotion to your family and to your parents in particular. Yet clearly Jonathan’s devotion to David and to his safety was more important than his devotion as a son to his father and as a prince to his king.
3. He defended David before his father. In 1 Samuel 20:31-34 (NIV) when Saul realized David was not coming to his feast, he exclaimed,
   

   As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”
   

   “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.
   

   Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger.

   Jonathan’s devotion drove him to stand up and defend his friend even before the king, and at great cost—Saul tried to kill Jonathan right then and there.

4. He protected David. Jonathan’s devotion to David ultimately made possible David’s escape.1 Samuel 20:42 (NIV) Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town. His devotion came at great cost; not only did it cause a deep rift between himself and his father Saul, but he knew that if he ever saw David again he would be lucky. They only met once more before Jonathan’s death, and in that meeting Jonathan recommitted his devotion to David saying, Don’t be afraid…My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this (1 Samuel 23:17, NIV).

So devotion shows itself by our being willing to help one another in any way we can; it shows itself at times by putting the welfare of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters even above our earthly families; it means being willing to stand up and defend one another even at great cost to ourselves; and it means being willing to go the distance to protect one another.