Relationships 101Sample

Importance/Made for relationship

Relationships are important and needed. They have a profound effect on our lives. We live in a world that is very individualistic; where many don’t have good relationships. Many are trying to do life on their own; sure that they don’t need anyone. Many people desire strong relationships but struggle to understand what it takes to build and maintain healthy relationships. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of relationships and how to navigate them. We believe that the Bible’s directions on relationships will help all of us, whether we are navigating family, friends, coworkers, dating, or marriage. Relationships all require skills, but the closer the relationships are, the more we need those skills.

Before diving into the skills we need to navigate relationships, I want to look at the importance the Bible places on relationships. There is an idea floating around that Jesus is all I need, so I don’t need relationships. We live in a world where people have replaced meaningful connections for entertainment and social awareness. Social media claims to have so many friends, followers, and connections of some sort that we can feel like we have friends. We can be somewhat aware of what might be happening but not actually be connected. It's so easy to fall into the routine of getting up, going to work, coming home, then turning on a screen to be entertained, letting the day slip away without any real connection. When God created the world, Genesis records Him declaring the things He made good, except for man. He made man, then declared it wasn’t good for man to be alone. That was a man in a perfect world with God, and God declared that Adam was made to be in fellowship, and so He created Eve.

The Bible says we have an enemy who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). In 1 Peter, we are told he goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. The way that lions hunt is by trying to isolate their prey. They hunt some large prey, and when they get them isolated, they can take them down. But if the cape buffalo unite, they turn the tables, and they can put the lions to flight. Good relationships will do the same for us.

When Jesus sent out His disciples, He sent them out in pairs (Mark 6 & Luke 10:1). Jesus knew the importance of relationships and avoiding isolation.

Jesus gives commands to those who would follow Him that simply can’t be done on our own. There are over 30 different ‘one another’ commandments. We are commanded to love one another, forgive, honor, serve, encourage, comfort, consider, speak truth to, and pray for one another. The list goes on, but we can’t do these on our own. These require us to do life in relationship. Jesus said the mark of following Him is the way we love one another (John 13:35). Since following Jesus means doing life in relationship, let's see what the Bible has to say about how to do that.