RELATIONSHIPS

 

Theme: RELATIONSHIPS

In biblical concept, a relationship is a connection or bond between people based on love, respect, and mutual care for one another.

This includes relationships such as marriage, family, friendships, and community.

 

The Bible teaches that having a relationship with God is essential for human beings to have a fulfilling and meaningful life. Here are some key teachings about the relationship with God:

Ø  Love God: Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength

Mark 12:28-30:

 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?'

'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

This involves putting God first in our lives, seeking to know Him more, and obeying His commands.

Ø  Repentance: The Bible teaches that repentance is necessary for a relationship with God. This involves turning away from sin and turning towards God

 

(Acts 3:19).

 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Ø  Faith: The Bible teaches that faith is essential for a relationship with God. This involves trusting in God and believing in His promises

 

(Hebrews 11:6).

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Ø  Prayer: The Bible teaches that prayer is a key aspect of our relationship with God. This involves talking to God, seeking His guidance and direction, and expressing our thankfulness and praise to Him

(Philippians 4:6-7).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Ø  Obeying God: The Bible teaches that obeying God is important in our relationship with Him. This involves following His commandments and living a life that is pleasing to Him

 

(1 John 2:3-6).

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

In a normal concept, a relationship is a connection or association between people, which may be based on various factors such as shared interests, goals, or experiences.

The two concepts relate in that both emphasize the importance of healthy connections between people.

 

There are two types:

1.      Toxic Marriage/ Relationship in the Bible.

Examples:

1.      Samson and his wife - In Judges 14, Samson married a Philistine woman against his parents' wishes. During the wedding feast, Samson posed a riddle to his guests, promising them thirty linen garments if they could solve it. His wife betrayed him by coaxing the answer out of him and then telling it to the guests. This led to a violent confrontation in which Samson killed thirty men and ultimately ended in the dissolution of the marriage.

2.      King Ahab and Queen Jezebel - In 1 Kings 16-21, Ahab, the king of Israel, married Jezebel, a pagan queen who led him into idolatry and wickedness. Jezebel was known for her manipulative and deceitful tactics, and she orchestrated the murder of several prophets of the Lord. Ultimately, both Ahab and Jezebel met tragic ends.

 

Life History of Samson:

·         Samson was an Israelite who was chosen by God to be a judge and deliverer of his people (Judges 13:5).

·         He was born to parents who were previously unable to have children and was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth (Judges 13:3-5).

·         As a Nazirite, Samson was forbidden from cutting his hair, drinking alcohol, and coming into contact with dead bodies (Judges 13:5).

·         Samson was known for his incredible physical strength, which he attributed to the Spirit of the Lord (Judges 14:6).

·         He had a weakness for women and was attracted to Philistine women, who were enemies of the Israelites (Judges 14:1-3).

·         Samson was often impulsive and acted without thinking, which led to several violent confrontations (Judges 14:19, 15:15-17).

·         He had a reputation for being a troublemaker and a threat to the Philistines, who ultimately captured him and blinded him (Judges 16:21).

·         In his final act, Samson called upon God for strength and pushed apart the pillars of a Philistine temple, killing himself and many Philistines (Judges 16:28-30).

Life History of King Ahab:

Before Marrying Queen Jezebel:

ü  Ahab was the son of King Omri and inherited the throne of Israel (1 Kings 16:28).

ü  He was initially described as a king who "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him" (1 Kings 16:30).

ü  Ahab was involved in the construction of a palace made of ivory and gold, which may have been an attempt to display his wealth and power (1 Kings 22:39).

ü  He was also involved in a battle against the Syrians in which he was defeated, but ultimately spared by the mercy of the Syrian king (1 Kings 20:1-34).

After Marrying Queen Jezebel:

ü  Ahab married Jezebel, a pagan queen who introduced him to the worship of Baal and led him into idolatry (1 Kings 16:31-33).

ü  Jezebel was known for her manipulative and deceitful tactics, and she orchestrated the murder of several prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4, 19:1-2).

ü  Ahab allowed Jezebel to build a temple to Baal in Samaria, which became a center of idol worship (1 Kings 16:32-33).

ü  He was also involved in a conflict with a man named Naboth, who refused to sell him his vineyard. Jezebel conspired to have Naboth falsely accused and executed, allowing Ahab to take possession of the vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16).

Healthy Relationship in the Bible:

ü  Abraham and Sarah - Abraham and Sarah were a couple who faced many challenges together. They were both very old when God promised them a son, but they trusted in God's promise and Isaac was born to them. They also journeyed together to a new land, as God had commanded them to do.

Genesis 17:15-21, Genesis 21:1-7

"Then God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.'...Then the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him."

ü  Ruth and Boaz - Ruth and Boaz were a couple who supported each other during difficult times. Ruth was a widow who had lost her husband and was living with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz was a wealthy landowner who showed kindness to Ruth and provided for her and Naomi. They eventually married and had a son, who became an ancestor of King David.

Ruth 1:1-18, Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 4:9-22

"Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons...Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 'Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.'...So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, '...Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.'...Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor...So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son."

 

ü  Priscilla and Aquila - Priscilla and Aquila were a couple who worked together to spread the gospel. They were tentmakers by trade and also served as missionaries with the Apostle Paul. They were known for their hospitality and for helping other believers.

Acts 18:1-3, Acts 18:24-28, Romans 16:3-5

"After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers...Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures

 

FACTORS INVOLVED IN RELATIONSHIP

Ø  Communication: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." - Colossians 4:6

Ø  Trust: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Ø  Boundaries: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

Ø  Conflict resolution: "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." - Matthew 18:15

Ø  Love and intimacy: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Ø  Equality: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28

Ø  Forgiveness: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13

Ø  Commitment: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.