A selfless love

The love that Jonathan had for David was probably one of the greatest examples of love we have in the Bible.

In 1 Corinthians 13, it says that two characteristics of love are that it does not envy and is not self-seeking. And that’s the kind of love that Jonathan had for David.

Here was the king’s son, next in line for the throne, with a man that he probably knew by this time was God’s choice to be the next king.

And yet Jonathan didn’t care. He didn’t envy David’s success. He wasn’t threatened by God’s plans for David. Instead, it says in verse 17 that Jonathan “loved him as he loved himself.”

He wanted the best for David no matter the cost to himself.

And so even though he knew he had no chance at the throne as long as David was alive, Jonathan went out of his way to protect David from his father Saul.

He defended David before Saul, and when Saul refused to listen, Jonathan quickly went to warn David to run away.

How about us?

Do we care more for others than we do ourselves?

Do we rejoice at God’s plans for others? Do we rejoice when others have success?

Or do we get upset because God doesn’t seem to be blessing us as much as he blesses others?

It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others and wish we had the things that they did. It’s so easy to get jealous and resent them.

But a true love is selfless. It rejoices when others rejoice and weeps when others weep.

What kind of love do you have?