Relational

"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

For example, David and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi. Some persons you have to love from a distance

Freedom from envy and jealousy and comparison.

They that compare themselves among themselves are not wise. (James 3:16, Corinthians 10:12). For example, look at the effects of envy and jealousy - Saul and David, Miriam and Moses, Cain and Abel.

Offer forgiveness to your family and friends even before it’s asked for.

This is what Jesus did while hanging on the cross. (Mark 11:25-26)

Have fun with your Family and Friends. The family that plays together stays together.

Put the interests of others before yours at times.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Accept people as they are instead of how you want them to be.

And deal with them where they are, instead of where you are. Listen to and be empathetic. Seek first to understand and then to be understood.

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

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

“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.

God loves me with my faults and failures, assets and liabilities, strengths and weakness and whether I have failed Him or am faithful to Him. By love, I mean using my God given abilities to do what is in the best interest of the one I love no matter how I feel or what he or she has done. “ If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loves God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21

Pray for and with your family and friend.

The family that prays together stays together. Above all, ask God for the presence of His spirit to direct, strengthen and sweeten the relationships with your family and friends “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” (Isaiah 44:3-4)

Application :