Loyalty: Dobby, the Harry Potter Movies
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. —Proverbs 18:24
When most people think about loyalty, their minds either go to Arthurian legends or the family dog—seldom in between. We associate the virtue either with the heroic fighter dedicated to a cause larger than himself, or the furry creature whose devotion seems uncomplicated and instinctual.
Rarely do we think about loyalty as an everyday thing, and we certainly don’t associate it with hundreds of young adults dressed up as wizards at bookstores in the middle of the night. However, the small, elfish figure of Dobby, from the Harry Potter books and movies, serves as a perfect example of loyalty like that: of personal sacrifice that asks for no recognition at the end of the day.
Though Dobby was born a slave, he repeatedly risks his life for Harry Potter, saving the boy wizard’s life more times than even the most careful reader could count. In the end, Dobby dies saving Harry and his friends from the Dark Lord, laying down his humble life in the process. It’s at that point that many Harry Potter fans put down our books and mourned for the tiny house elf with a curious and adorable love of knitted socks and neckties, but not many of us thought about what a love like that really is—it’s heavenly.
Though Dobby is a beautiful example of loyalty, our little movie hero pales in comparison to the real thing. Proverbs says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” and indeed, when it came time to sacrifice Himself for us, Christ’s loyalty proved supreme. Jesus came to our cold and unloving world to save us from the chain of sin so heavy it would crush us. Dobby did die to save Harry Potter, but surely if he could have spared himself and still rescued Harry, he would have done that. Every second Jesus was on the cross, He was God, fully capable of saving Himself and punishing those who put Him there. Yet He chose to sacrifice his life for us instead. Moreover, Jesus came back to us. He was perfectly loyal to us in life, in death, and in coming back to life despite our disloyalty to Him. His loyalty is perfect.
Dobby is the kind of friend any of us would love to have, but remember that there’s only one person who has already given everything for you. Have you taken the time lately to say thank you to Jesus for His sacrifice?
A PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for your loyalty to us, especially when we fail to be loyal to You. Please forgive us for that, and help us to remember Your perfect sacrifice on our behalf. Amen.
TAKE ACTION
- Read 1 Samuel 18–20 to get a taste for the closeness Jonathan and David had. Then read 2 Samuel 9:1–13 to see how loyal David was to his friend after his death.
- Who are you loyal to? Pray for them specifically this week.
Excerpt from: No Cape Required: A Devotional: 52 Ways to Unleash Your Inner Hero by Kristen Parrish Copyright © 2013 by Nelson Books. Used with permission.