“Only Luke is with me…” ~ II Timothy 4:11

 

REFERENCE:

II Timothy 4:9-16

 

If you have sailed far out on an ocean, you may have seen a shark tailing your ship. A school of smaller fish (dark grey or deep blue with white stripes) often accompany the shark, called Pilot fish. They hang around the shark and feed off the parasites on it and its leftover meals. The pilot fish has a mutual relationship with sharks; the pilot fish is protected from predators, while the shark is relieved from parasites. No matter how hungry the shark is, it will never eat the Pilot fish, and they are faithful to it. Whenever a shark is caught, the pilot fish often stick to its fins and are drawn into the ship; they follow the shark even to death.

 

As we conclude on Paul’s desertion by Demas, let us take note of Luke. Paul said that he stayed with him after Demas dumped him; his presence made the departure of Demas easier for him. Luke must have had reasons to dump Paul too; times Paul got on his nerves or rebuked him, but he stayed. Luke stayed through the desertions, sufferings, and travels. He was a faithful friend and companion; the friend who sticks closer than a brother; Luke was a pilot fish.

 

Are you a Demas or a Luke? How committed are you to your relationship, marriage, company, church, or team? What is your stickability quotient? Are you a fair-weather friend, or do you check out at the slightest provocation, trouble, or offense? Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” A commentary says, “…he becomes a brother when he goes through adversity with his friend.” How long can you stay in the company if it is going through a storm? How much can you endure with the people, team, or ministry where God planted you? Are you always moving from one relationship (date) to another?

 

Ruth stayed with Naomi, even when there was nothing to benefit her; Elisha stayed with Elijah amidst great mockery; David stayed with Saul while dodging javelins of hate and envy thrown at him. Loyalty is quite scarce today, and that scarcity is killing our marriages, friendships, businesses, and ministries. Loyalty stays except for circumstances when God will ask you to leave for your life, sanity, or assignment. Loyalty is a godly virtue.

 

Have you been quitting on your friends, teams, or organizations? Do you find it hard to go the long haul with God’s assigned relationships in your life? Ask God for the grace to be loyal and to help you not disappoint those who look up to you or depend on you. G. Whitefield said, “Go to the pilot fish, you who forsook a friend in adversity, consider its ways, and be ashamed.”

PHOTO QUOTE:

PILOT FISH

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Proverbs 20:6 (AMP), Matthew 8:18-19 & II Samuel 15:19-21

 

PRAYERS:

+ In any area of my life where I find quitting easy and my first recourse, give me staying power.

+ I pray for grace for loyalty and faithfulness – to my spouse, friends, organization, fiancé, etc.

+ I ask that you heal any heart that my departure has hurt, even as you heal my heart.

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