Relationships 101ಮಾದರಿ

Foundations Matter

We talked about how important relationships are, but just because they are important doesn’t make them easy. The most important thing in relationships is their foundation. A building’s foundation doesn’t control the weather, but it allows the building to withstand the storms that may come. I wish I could tell you that making Jesus the foundation for your relationships would avoid all problems, but I haven’t found that promise anywhere in the Bible. I have found, however, promises that relationships will take work. For instance, Paul states that those who marry will have troubles. But challenges aren’t a reason to run. Proverbs 14:4 lets us know that you can keep a stable clean if you don’t have animals, but it is with the animals that they produced a great harvest. Likewise, relationships bring challenges, but they bring life, too. When the storms of life hit we will stand or fall on our foundation. When I do pre-marriage ministry, I love asking people about why they make the choices they do. Is their life built on what is easy, what is pleasing to them, what makes others happy, family tradition, or what the Bible says? It may seem like an odd thing, but the answer to that question is one of the most important questions they can answer. If their life is built on whatever makes them happy, then when the relationship is hard, they will bail. If their foundation is based on others' opinions, then they are only as strong as the opinions of those around them. But, if their foundation is based on God’s Word and honoring Him, then even when things are hard, they will commit to God’s way. That means when they don’t feel like forgiving, they do anyway because God said to. When they want to gossip, they don’t because they want to honor God with their words. When they mess up, they let God’s Word guide them back and direct their steps and words. I am not saying we can’t have friends that don’t love Jesus, but we get to build our actions on God’s Word. Romans 12:18 directs us to do our part, “as much as it depends on us”. We need to base our part on God’s Word. In Matthew 18:17 it says we have different expectations for those who don’t want to live for God. If we choose to respond according to God’s Word it will change our relationships. We can’t make everyone love Jesus, which means when getting married this is the most important attribute to look for. If both people choose to honor God and do what He says, you can make it through any storm that may come. Before we jump into God’s instructions for different situations, have you looked at your own foundation? Have you made Jesus the Lord the boss in your own life? If not, I invite you to do that now. It starts with a choice to call on Jesus, based on Romans 10:9-13. Then, we get to choose daily to follow Him.