Enriching Relationships III

Описание

We can benefit from rich relationships as we go through life.

Join us as we dig deeper in our series titled "Enriching Relationships".

ENRICHING RELATIONSHIPS III

RELATIONSHIP WITH FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES

INTRODUCTION

No man is an island says an adage. There is no way we can enjoy life (1 Tim. 6:17: Eccl. 5:18) and be all that God wants us to be without needing the assistance of people around us. The truth is that we need one another (Jdg. 18:7; 2 Cor. 3:5), as a tree cannot make a forest. It is therefore important for us to work at improving the quality of our relationships with people around us (2 Cor. 3:18:3 Jn.2).

INGREDIENTS FOR ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS COLLEAGUES

1. LOVE - Agape love should be the bedrock of any relationship that will succeed (1 Cor. 13:4-8)

CHARACTERISTICS OF AGAPE LOVE

Suffers long - Has patience with imperfect people (Matt.20:20-28; Lk.9:55-56).

Kind - Active in doing good (Gal.5:22).

Does not envy - Not possessive and not competitive. Always wants other people to get ahead (Acts 9:26-28; 11:22-28; 15:36-39; 2 Tim. 4:11).

Does not parade itself- Is not arrogant (Jn.3:27)

Does not behave rudely. Displays good manners and shows courtesy (1 Tim. 4:12)

Does not seek its own - Not insisting on its own rights and demanding precedence (Rom. 12:10). Not selfish.

Not easily provoked - Not irritable or touchy, rough or hostile, but graceful under pressure. If we will choose to walk in love always, it will go a long way to enhance our relationship with the people around us.

2. UNDERSTANDING Building a relationship is like building a house (Prov. 24:3). For us to get along well with people around us, we must first of all try to understand them (Prov. 13:15a). We must understand their background, likes. dislikes strengths and weaknesses. Good understanding however comes through knowledge.

3. RESPECT AND RECOGNITION - Respect, they say, is reciprocal (Luke 6:31). If we want other people to respect us, then we must respect them in return ( Gal.6:7: Hos. 8:7; 2 Pet. 3:14-15; Gal.1:15-19). Public acknowledgment of the good values of people around us will go a long way to enhance our relationship with them ( Rom. 16:5-7; Col.4:7-18).

4. SINCERITY AND FIRMNESS There is no point being friends if we cannot tell one another the plain truth! Firm and sincere counsel will help in strengthening our relationships (Prov. 11:14).

5. TRUST We must learn to have confidence in the reliability of people around us (Luke 6:12-13: 9:1-12; 10:1).

6. SACRIFICE Our relationship with people will get better if we learn to sacrifice; love is not always convenient (Prov. 17:17; 1 Sam.21; Luke 10:25-37).

SUMMARY:

There is no way we can claim to love God and have a closer relationship with Him, if we do not relate well with people we see day-in-day-out (1Jn. 4:20-21). Let us therefore strive to improve on our relationship with the people around us (2Cor. 12:9).