"Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship
with My Family and Friends"
God is a love. Therefore he is a
God of relationships
There is a healthy, harmonious, respectful relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He wants a similar relationship to exist among Christians and their families. “I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one–as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.” “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The essence of Christianity is a having a loving personal relationship with our God and a loving relationship with each other. (John 17:20-24; 13:34-35)
Trust based on knowledge of the other person
Freedom from envy and jealousy and comparison.
Offer forgiveness to your family and friends even before it’s asked for.
Have fun with your Family and Friends. The family that plays together stays together.
Put the interests of others before yours at times.
Accept people as they are instead of how you want them to be.
Respect the differences in the temperaments and dispositions in each family member or friend.
Marked diversities of disposition and character frequently exist in the same family, for it is in the order of God that persons of varied temperaments should associate together. When this is the case, each member of the household should sacredly regard the feelings of others and respect their right to be different. By this means mutual consideration and forbearance will be cultivated, prejudices will be softened, and rough points of character smoothed. Harmony may be secured, and the blending of the varied temperaments may be a benefit of each.” (E. G. White, Mind, Character and Personality, volume 2, page 616)
Resolve conflicts quickly. If not before they destroy the quality of your relationships
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembers that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the suns go down upon your wrath:” Ephesians 4:26
Love family and friends as God loves me.
Pray for and with your family and friend.
Application :
- Give a short summary of your idea of a healthy relationship with your family.
- Would you say that you have a healthy relationship with your family and friends?
- Which family member or friend do I need to have a healthier relationship? What steps can I take, beginning now, to improve my relationship with that family or friends?