Unless you are a total recluse you have relationships all around you. Most of us have family relationships, we have work relationships, neighbors, church, associates in stores where we shop, and even online relationships. Some have more connections on social media than they do face-to-face. We live in a world filled with relationships. You can even be a hermit and have a multitude of relationships on social media.
God made us to be relational beings. He is a relational God and we are made in His image. The second commandment given by Jesus in Mark 12:31 is to love our neighbor as we do ourselves.
Mark 12:31 “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
This is the same principle taught in I Corinthians 13:3-7. We are to give aid to those who can’t take care of themselves, not just money, but sometimes we need to lend physical help. We need to be kind to others not snippy and rude. It doesn’t matter what our situation is, it is wrong to take our frustrations out on others. That is not loving, it is selfishness. If we lived these verses, daily, not only would others benefit, but God would be pleased with us.
I Corinthians 13:3-7 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
I John 3:16-17 teaches us that we should love others so much that we would be willing to give our life for them. Our example is Christ, and we are to seek to have the same behavior as He did. Verse 17 teaches us that biblical love pays attention to others. If this person sees another’s need, he shows compassion for him and tries to help him. He is willing to take what he has and share it with those who are less fortunate. The last part of verse 17 questions our love for God if we do not love those whom God loves. We have a negative impact on those around us if we do not practice what we say we believe. James 2:14-16 makes it clear that if we say we love God but ignore the needs of others, we do not have our faith where it should be. Verse 17 says that faith without works is dead!
I John 3:16-17 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
James 2:15 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
Relationships are vital to show our faith in God. They are commanded in scripture. From the passages today, we should understand that it’s not just about our inner circle of family and friends. Our lives cross paths with people all the time. People that God placed there for us to influence for Him. If you have limited your relationships to family, friends, and those close to you at work, you have limited the impact you will have for Christ. Open your eyes and look around. Realizing everyone you come in contact with has been placed there by God. Say a kind word, do a kind deed, and look for ways to open the door for a new relationship to share Christ. Seek out people, everyone has a soul that will spend eternity somewhere. We are left here to impact the world for Christ, one soul at a time!
