Dear Comrade, last week, we looked at the importance of knowing your battalion
and being actively involved. Today, we will discuss another crucial requirement in
this army: A battle buddy. Dear Christian Soldier, do you have a battle buddy?
One of the unique characteristics of the US Army is the buddy system. The
“buddy system” refers to a practice where two soldiers are paired together,
known as “battle buddies,” with the responsibility to monitor and support each
other’s safety and well-being, essentially ensuring that they always have
someone watching their back in potentially dangerous situations. The battle
buddy’s responsibilities include looking for signs of distress, assisting when
needed, and reporting concerns to superiors.
One soldier, Fort Rucker, said, “The battle buddy system teaches Soldiers how to
work together as a team and how to look out for fellow Soldiers at all times.” He
also stated that “Battle buddies are always together, and that allows them to
never feel like they’re alone. The idea is to let Soldiers feel like someone’s always
got their back.” Another soldier, Vanzant, added, “Battle buddies help each
other through training and everyday life. Even when they’re not working, the two
are supposed to help each other when necessary.” Yet another, Loftin, said, “The
battle buddy is the guy who’s going to be there for you in every situation.” I got
these soldiers’ comments here.
Having a battle buddy is a requirement for Soldiers in both basic combat and
advanced individual training. It is a crucial part of army training that every
soldier must have a buddy. As a Christian soldier, the Commander has not
enlisted you so that you can live in isolation. He has provided you with a battle
buddy system on many levels.
Remember the story of Daniel in the Bible? Daniel had battle buddies; Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego. These men were his companions, those he could run to
in times of trouble. When the king gave the decree to annihilate all the wise men
because they could not tell him his dream and its interpretation, Daniel ran to his
battle buddies, and together, they prayed. After praying, God revealed the
dream and its interpretation to Daniel and all the wise men were spared. You can
read this story in Daniel 2.
The Apostles also had battle buddies. When the high priest and Sadducees
arrested and beat them, they returned to their own company and prayed. They
had a support system they could fall back on in difficult times. Praying with their
company yielded tremendous results because they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and spoke God’s word with boldness. (Acts 4:23-31).
Beloved Comrade, do you have battle buddies? No man can fight this fight of
faith in isolation. You need your own company. While your local assembly is your
battalion, the few people you can freely share your struggles with, pray with,
study the Bible together and face the battles of life with are your battle buddies.
Do you have someone or a group of people who fit this picture? Do you have
friends you pray with or a group of people you fellowship with regularly?
One of the ways our adversary, the devil, destroys many Christian soldiers is by
isolating them. The moment he can keep you secluded, he can destroy you
because he knows you are easy prey. But you cannot easily be broken when you
bond with others like a threefold cord. (Ecclesiastes 4:12). You cannot run this
race alone. Although every man has been called to run on their own track, we run
better when we run together. This African Proverb consolidates the need for a
battle buddy: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go
together.”
I will wrap up my thoughts about the necessity of having a battle buddy with this
story.
Two men, Jim and Jack, in World War 1 enlisted together. They became battle
buddies and trained, were shipped overseas together, and fought side-by-side in
the trenches. During an attack, one of the men was critically wounded in a field
filled with barbed wire obstacles, and he was unable to crawl back to his foxhole.
The entire area was under a withering enemy crossfire, and it was suicidal to try
to reach him. Yet his friend decided to try. Before he could get out of his own
trench, the sergeant yanked him back inside and ordered him not to go. ‘It’s too
late. You can’t do him any good, and you’ll only get yourself killed.’
A few minutes later, the officer turned his back, and instantly, the man was gone
after his friend. Shortly after, he staggered back, mortally wounded, with his
friend, now dead, in his arms. The sergeant was both angry and deeply moved.
‘What a waste,’ he blurted out. ‘He’s dead, and you’re dying. It just wasn’t worth
it.’ With almost his last breath, the dying man replied, ‘Oh, yes, it was, Sarge.
When I got to him, the only thing he said was, ’I knew you’d come, Jim!’
Do you have buddies like Jim, who will stand by you through thick and thin?
Christian friends, family members, mentors or spiritual leaders who will do all
they can to help you in your downtimes? Are you a battle buddy to others, too?
Do you go the extra mile to pray for, support and stand by your friends? Do you
intercede for others?
Dear Comrade, I want you to ask the Lord to send you battle buddies if you don’t
have one and to make you a worthy battle buddy to others. God never intended
for you to do life alone. I pray you will enjoy the wealth of worthy buddies and
more than this, may you be someone others can rely on in this great army of
Christ.