Counselor or Companion?

"Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion."

1 Chronicles 27:33

There is a difference between a counselor and companion.  Ahithophel and Hushai both played important roles in David's life, and the stark contrast of their relationships occurred when Absalom usurped King David's throne.  Ahithophel gave counsel to Absalom even as he had done with David.  He was loyal to whomever sat upon the throne in Israel.  Yet Hushai remained loyal to David and gave counsel to undermine that of Ahithophel so David might survive and regain his rightful place on the throne.  When Ahithophel saw Absalom and his men favored Hushai's advice over his own, he set his house in order and hung himself.  If you are interested to read the biblical account, it can be found in 2 Samuel chapters 15-17.

As Christians, we find a counselor and companion in our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  When we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us.  He guides us into all truth not as a paid informant, but as the closest friend.  As a good husband encourages and loves his wife faithfully and sacrificially, so God tangibly reveals His love for us.  No woman simply wants counsel from her husband:  she desires a companion.  God counsels us as the closest companion.  Most people are happy to give counsel, but few are willing or able to walk the long road of a lifetime commitment to God and one another sound marriage requires.  God's love is infinite, and it never fails.

Amazing as it sounds, this is what God desires from us too:  communion and companionship.  God needs no counsel from us (a good thing to remember in our prayers!), but He desires us to be faithful companions to Him.  He wants us to remain loyal even if the entire universe were to attempt to dethrone Him.  Interesting that the word "companion" is translated as "neighbor" 102 times and "companion" five times (KJV Old Testament).  Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.  The second is like it, to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Because of the love God has shed abroad in our hearts, we are to love God and all other people with this same love, the love of a companion.  What a revolutionary thought for us people who ration out our love depending on feelings and familiarity with someone!

Jesus says in John 15:12:  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  The question then must be asked:  how does Jesus love us?  Completely, eternally, sacrificially, faithfully, graciously, without prejudice or partiality.  How can we love one another like this?  We must first receive of Christ's love and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  No man can love like this, but through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus can love others through us.  We must be willing to be a companion to those who are lost, a close friend to our neighbors, and a lover of the unlovable.  Everyone has opinions on how other people should live their lives.  It is the love of a companion which often is completely missing.

Let's be willing to grow in the gracious love modeled by Christ:  2 Peter 3:18 says, "...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."