Life and Other Mysteries

There is a burden upon my heart in the area of friendships and those whom we share life with. Unfortunately, I have seen many times how jealousy, gossip, bitterness, anger, deceit and just plain factiousness have wrecked havoc in relationships with people I have known. It grieves me, because rather than giving praise to the Lord and holding each other accountable; there is war being waged against sisters and even brothers in Christ. (the brothers tend to be on the outskirts of this most of the time – one has to love the way guys often times avert this.) Why is there so much time being wasted on frivolous things?  How will picking a fight, saying and unkind word, being jealous or holding a grudge help to further the kingdom of God? Those who call themselves Christians should be holding themselves in a higher standard! Below are some verses that I believe shed light on the way we should conduct ourselves in the manner of friendship. (I know I needed a refresher course on these principles) There is always room for improvement – by challenging one another towards kindness and goodness we in turn will have more meaningful relationships.

Galatians 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Job 6:14 “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty”

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Philippians 1:6-7 “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about you all because I hold you in my heart, for you are partakers with me of grace…”

Philippians 2:3-8 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being found in appearance as a man, humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!”

John 15:3 “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

     I think God is very clear on the way we should treat others! Please think twice before being bitter, saying an unkind word or anything else. Remember it is not honoring or pleasing to God and we grieve Him greatly when we treat people in this manner! Rather, we should be uplifting one another and bearing one another’s burdens in true community.