Male Friendship 101: David, Jon, & Iron MikeSample

1 Samuel 14:7, "And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul."

Jonathan has a "ride or die"—a "day one"—someone who is with him through thick and through thin. Facing a garrison of Philistines on his own, Jonathon looks at his armor-bearer and asks, "are you down?" His reply? "I'm down. Let's go."

Do you have an "I'm down" friend? If not, you need one. Someone who is uncharacteristically LOYAL. Someone who will roll with you until the wheels fall off, sliding off a cliff in the face of a Philistine garrison (1 Sam. 14:1-5).

One of the key ingredients to a true friendship is loyalty. Like Jon's armor-bearer, a loyal friend:

Will stand by you and stand up for you. Whether you are facing a garrison of warriors, or a defaming rumor at the office, a loyal friend has your back.

Values commitment. Commitment is more than a promise; commitment is about dedication, determination, and conviction.

Is selfless. They consider the needs of others rather than themselves. They help and care without looking for something in return.

Is reliable. You can count on them to be there whenever you need them, rain or shine.

Has a strong sense of self. When someone is secure with who they are, they never seek validation from others.

We all need loyal friends; indeed, we are doing better than most if we can find one armor-bearer. Find your ride or die. And remember, the only thing better than having an armor-bearer is being one.

Lesson: Remember, the strength of a friendship, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to one another. Watch out for fair-weather friends; it's like Martin Luther said, "where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved."