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| Author: Pastor Faith Oyedepo |
Topic: Building Trust in Your Relationship (2)
Dear Reader,
You are welcome to a time of refreshing in God’s presence. Last week, I taught on trust and this week, I want to teach on Relationship.
What is Relationship?
Relationship simply means association, contact and interaction with people. It means to be involved or to link up with somebody else. However, if your relationship with people must be successful, and not cause you problems but rather benefit you, then you need to understand and know yourself.
Every relationship you are into has you as the principal actor. That is why a good understanding of yourself will help you to succeed in that relationship –whether it is with a member of the opposite sex or someone of same gender. I have observed that many people don’t know themselves and have never really bothered to find out just who they are. They just want to focus on others and what they are doing well or not doing well. You need to take time to find out who you are.
Relationship with God
This kind of relationship only comes when you have given your life to Christ, and God becomes your Father. The Word of God says: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3). There is no way you can walk with God without being in an agreement with Him. Redemption is the only way to have a relationship with God. The Bible says: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
You and I were created for the pleasure of God. That means, the greatest relationship that you can have with anyone is with God. Once that relationship is intact, it will set a pace for your relationship with men (Revelation 4:11). Your relationship with God will always guarantee you wisdom, direction, peace, etc.
Relationship with Others
There are general rules for getting along with other people. These keys will work for you as you apply them.
- Walk in love: It is the love of God that makes it possible for you to relate successfully with all categories of men, both the lovable and the unlovable. That love is made possible by the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5-6).
- Be understanding: Generally, people like to be understood. They want you to make an effort to understand why they do things the way they do them, their various temperaments, backgrounds, etc. You must strive to treat people the way you want to be treated.
- Beware of invalid expectations: The reason many times we have misunderstandings with people is that our expectations are very high. We expect too much from people. People will always be people! You must make allowance for their errors and weaknesses.
- Concentrate on the good: If you look carefully, you will observe that nobody is hundred percent perfect! Since that is the case, every one has weaknesses and strengths. So, you can either concentrate on their weaknesses or strengths per time. As such, we must learn to look beyond people’s mistakes.
- Treat people well: A wise man once said, ‘What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you’. That means, if you treat people well, whether they repay you or not, God will make it happen for you!
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