Brotherly Love

A Place of Brotherly Love – Hebrews 13:1 - “Let brotherly love continue…” The foundational character of a Church is a place of brotherly love, brotherly affection, it is a brotherhood. What is brotherly love? It simply means having the kinds of people in your life that you can walk with side by side and rely on when things get really tough. Brotherly love is a side by side love, it is a readiness to walk with your mate through adversity: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17). When I think of this kind of brotherly love a few powerful examples come to mind:

David and Jonathan – are the most powerful example of this kind of friendship in the Bible, we can learn a lot from them. We read this in 1 Samuel 18:1-5 – “1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.”

David and Jonathan loved each other with brotherly affection. They were dedicated to backing each other up, helping each other out, and seeking the best for each other. This is what brotherly affection is. It is the kind of affection you can rely on, that is seeking the best for you. It is not just a “hey, how are you doing mate” kind of friendship. It is a “the enemy is coming for you and we will shield you” kind of friendship.

We see Jonathan do this for David not long after this passage, 1 Samuel 19:1-7 – “1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5 For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.”

Here Jonathan advocates for David, and later he will help David flee from Saul. Jonathan was willing to stand against the evil of his own father, to help a man who was innocent. This is hard, this is not common, this is brotherly love. Jonathan was so devoted to David, he was willing to let David be his king, and he even looked forward to the day he would serve in David’s kingdom (1 Sam 20:14-17) – “14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; 15 and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.”

Jonathan risked his life, his position, and more to be loyal to his friend David. This is brotherly affection. When David was in danger Jonathan did what he could to cover for him and protect him, to take away the threat, and when he could do this no longer, he made sure David could escape.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17). The Church is meant to be a brotherhood, a loyal gathering of like-minded followers of Jesus. Like brothers from another mother, but actually brothers and sisters from the same heavenly father.

Frodo and Samwell Gamgee – The greatest example of this brotherly affection in all of fiction is the friendship of Samwell Gamgee and Frodo. Samwell is the least notable of all of the characters in the Lord of the Rings. He is not especially strong, smart, or skilled at fighting. But he is the most noble and loyal of Hobbits. He is dedicated to his friend and master Frodo Baggins. So many people misunderstand these movies, but the fantasy genre was created by Christians to tell beautiful mythical Christian tales to teach the virtues of Christian civilisation and Christian virtue.

Tolkien understood Christian brotherhood, probably because he fought in World War One. He understood brotherly affection, and one of the most powerful scenes in the whole trilogy exemplifies this more than any other, when Frodo falls and fails to life himself up again. But rather than tell you, let me show you: here.

We all need a friend like Sam, and we all need to be a friend like Sam. This was written by a man who knew what brotherhood is. Tolkien understood fellowship was not just chatting over a cup of tea and biscuits after church. Fellowship is facing hell and highwater together and dragging each other through it and rejoicing together afterwards that you made it.  

Brotherly affection is not just liking someone, or agreeing with someone. Brotherly affection is being willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with your brother in Christ in the day of adversity. Brotherly affection is being willing to carry your brother, when he can’t carry himself any further. Brotherly affection is enjoying the good times and enduring the bad times together.

Brotherly affection is a must for a good church. The more hostile our culture becomes to the Church, the more necessary it is going to be, and we will need to stand together more and more.

(This is a except from a recent sermon I preached, if you would like to hear the rest, click here).