Who's at Your Table?

Even though he was the rightful heir to King Saul and the throne of Israel, Jonathan had a steadfast respect, love, and admiration for David. He was there when David took out Goliath and became his closest friend. Even when Jonathan's father became jealous of David and sought to have him killed, Jonathan put their friendship first and helped him escape. He was a loyal and faithful friend to David. 

A prophet and trusted advisor, Nathan was a much-needed mentor to King David. He helped David navigate the huge issues and decisions he faced, shared the wisdom of God with David, and held him to account for his actions. When David tripped over laziness and lust, it was Nathan who delivered the sober truth of his failure and called him out. Nathan was the voice of experience and wisdom for the King.  

Joab fought for him, Jonathan befriended him, and Nathan coached him. Three very different people, playing three very different roles, and all necessary seats at the king's table.  

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Who has a seat at your table? Isolation is one of the fastest ways for us to become lion food. Think about when David hung back from battle to sit alone on his couch. Enter Bathsheba and a hornet's nest of sin and failure. Someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

We need people who will join us in battle to protect us and fight for our cause. We need covenant friends we can share with, be vulnerable with, and trust to be there in our most difficult times. We need mentors. Been there, done that, people who hold us to a standard and guide us with wisdom when we lack it. We all need a Joab, a Jonathan, and a Nathan in our lives.  

Who has a seat at your table? If you lack any of these roles, go recruit. That's part of being the expert. Realizing dining alone leads to some pretty bad meals, and that we need the right people at the table with us.  

At whose table are you invited to sit? Being one of these people for others will both reveal the importance of the role for you and attract others to take an empty seat for you.  

Choose a banquet of the right confidants over a TV dinner alone on a tray. Kings and difference makers don't dine alone. Who is at your table?