Building Good Biblical Relationships
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What are things that are important to you in any relationship?
There are a lot of factors that go into your relationships. The question to ask yourself is, are you building your relationship based upon God?
Built Upon the Rock
You have learned a lot about building your relationship with God. Now the question to ask is if you are building relationships centered around your relationship with God and what the Bible teaches. Do you ever consider that?
Jesus was asked to explain the most important commandment. He responded by saying what we should love God with all of our soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). This tells us that the first, most important relationship we have is with God. We should love Him with everything we have.
Why do you think it is important to put our relationship with God first?
Loving Others
Building good relationships with other starts with what Jesus said in Matthew 12:31. Here it reads, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.’”
What do you think it means to love others as yourself?
This verse acknowledges that we must love others in the same way that we love ourselves. However, while many of us take care of ourselves, we don’t love ourselves.
How do you think a lack of love for yourself will affect the way you treat others?
You had a previous lesson on the idea of people pleasing. Often, a person who does not love him or herself tries to find affirmation from others. It is the acceptance of others that makes that person feel like he or she has value and is loved. What problems could arise by you seeking love from others for things you do for them?
Not Unequally Yoked
In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul cautions us to not be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. You have previously read about the term “yoke.” Can you describe what it would mean in a relationship?
Why do you think it would be a problem if you are “unequally yoked” with unbelievers?
The truth is that if you are allowing an unbeliever to have a superior position in your life, you can be sure that problems will arise. What are some examples of problems you may see by having a supervisor or girlfriend who is an unbeliever?
Keep in mind that the most important relationship to you should be your relationship with God. No matter who you are building a relationship with, that person should love God as well. Here is an important rule for you to keep in mind: the more intimate the relationship, the more important it is that both of you are seeking God.
The reason behind this rule is simple. A person who has a very close relationship with you should be someone you can pray, grow in your faith, and learn with. It should be someone who can advise you with good Biblical insights. If your best friend, girlfriend, or wife is not seeking after God, it will be very difficult for you to have personal, in-depth conversations. Your goals for life will be significantly different than theirs.
Do you have friends who are not Christians? If you do, what are your conversations like?
What kind of conversations do you have with those who are Christian?
You Should Love
Your friends, family, and other close associates should be people who you truly love. They should be people that you would make sacrifices for. Those people should be willing to do the same thing for you. In John 15:12-13, Jesus told us that there is no greater love than when one is willing to lay down his life for his friends. You do not need to give up your life, to die for someone to show you love them. However, you should be willing to make sacrifices to help that person.
Do you have friends that you would sacrifice almost anything for?
The second part of Proverbs 18:24 says that there is a friend who is closer than a brother. You should have friends who love you and want to see you thrive. You should love them and want them to thrive as well.
You should also be willing to say tough things to that person to help him or her, whether it is your coworker, friend, girlfriend, or wife. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Discipline is never enjoyable as it happens, but it changes lives. Could you say tough things that could change your friends’ lives?
Biblical relationships are built on love for one another. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. How could you apply this to your relationship with others?
Do you have friendships like this where you are building each other up?
If not, what is stopping you from having a relationship based on this kind of love?
Your Memory Verse: Hebrews 12:11 – 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
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