11 A LEADERSHIP CONVERSATION WITH DR. GARY COOK, CHANCELLOR We need to always go to the Bible for words of wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 we find these words: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” We discover in the Bible that even Jesus felt the need for friends. He had His twelve disciples who He lived and served with daily, and then there was a group of 72 followers who He sent out in teams of two to minister. It appears from reading the Gospels that Jesus had three very close friends whom He spent the most time with: Peter, James, and John. We find that He took these three with Him to the Mount of Transfiguration and again, on the night of His betrayal, He took them into the inner part of the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus also had some social friends such as Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We find Jesus several times in the Scriptures visiting in their home. In fact, on the Saturday night before Palm Sunday He once again spent the evening with them. It seems to me that He desired companionship before He began the most difficult week of His life. If Jesus needed close friends to do life with, then certainly we need close friends to do life with. In the Old Testament we find Daniel as a young man with his three friends, known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Later, in midlife, we continue to see him living in the same home with these three individuals. Daniel went to their house and asked them to pray that he would be able to interpret the King’s dream. When Daniel was promoted by the King, Daniel then asked if his three friends also could be given governmental positions. Not only did he totally trust his friends, but he was very loyal to them. One of the most remarkable and touching stories of the Bible is the covenantal relationship that David and Jonathan had. Theirs was certainly a remarkable relationship. I believe every leader needs to have deep relationships with several friends who he can minister to and who can minister to him.
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