HEALTHY REWARDING RELATIONSHIPS

“For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14b

Enjoying a Life of Health and Well-being is linked to HEALTHY, REWARDING RELATIONSHIPS: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2Cor.6:14). Relationships could be: fellowship, communion, accord, part or agreement. Righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness; Light has no communion with darkness; Christ has no accord with Belial; believers have no part with unbelievers; and God’s temple has no agreement with idols. We are called to be God’s children (v.18).

 Relationships are the emotional and social energies of personalities which flow into our lives: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Pro.13:20). Who we walk with matters much! Association leads either to elevation or to destruction. Relationships can be positive or negative; constructive or destructive: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Cor.15:33b). Relationship is the Fabric of Living. Our achievement and success in life hinges on our relationships – with God and other human beings. Many people are lonely in life because they build walls instead of bridges!

 We are the sum-total of our Relational encounters and experiences. Our lives require Input from a Network of people of diverse callings and backgrounds (Pro.11:14). In order to enjoy healthy relationships and bring the best out of them, we must appreciate, assimilate, and apply Bible-based truths. Here are five principles of healthy, rewarding relationships:

 No person is an island unto him or herself in the pursuit of destiny. Our dreams and visions, and their achievement are LINKED and CONNECTED to others. Achievers are “Reachers” and reachable: The Son of God left His heavenly glory to reach to fallen humanity to fulfil His mission of redemption. In His earth-walk. He reached out to diverse classes of people and was reachable (Acts 10:38; Lk.8:1-3; 15:1-4). In the secular: Teachers need students, Pastors  need flocks, Kings subjects, Leaders followers, Salesmen customers, Children need parents, and vice-versa, if they are to be fulfilled in life!

 Over time, every relationship will affect us either positively or negatively. There are four kinds of relationships we’ll encounter in life: Those who add to us; those who subtract from us; those who multiply us; and those who divide or diminish us. Those who do not Increase us will inevitably decrease us. Righteous Jehoshaphat was rebuked for associating with wicked Ahab (2Chr.19:1-2). Destructive Delilah was the ruin of great Samson. Jonathan might have lived longer if he kept nearer David the anointed, rather than ride with his father – Saul, the rejected! Every relationship will feed a strength or weakness in us.

 Healthy Relationships are demanding Investments, as illustrated in the friendship of David and Jonathan (1Sam.18:3-4). Companionship requires Commitment – of time and attention: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Pro.17:17); “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Pro.27:17). We should see potential in God’s creatures rather than pre-judge people by first impression. God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). We also should treat people without prejudice, bias or discrimination: “These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment” (Pro.24:23). We should relate to people as Souls to be saved and blessed, not Tools to be used and dumped.

 Discernment (not Discrimination) is basic to Healthy Relationships. We are to “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb.6:12). On the other hand, we should “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly…” (2The.3:6a). Jesus taught His disciples to disconnect from any place that did not value their Message (Mt.10:14). Some forms of familiarity truly breed contempt: “Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you" (Pro.25:17). Our confidence should not be misplaced: “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint" (Pro.25:19). Every relationship must have a clearly defined and godly purpose. We must associate with people going in the same direction (Amos 3:3): Compatibility is crucial to healthy, rewarding relationships.