Imagine…Relationships without Conflict

There is nothing more natural than relationships between people.  We are born into a family relationship.  We grow up in a community relationship.  We engage in friend relationships.  We find our own marriage relationship.  We have team relationships, work relationships, professional relationships, and, in this time, online relationships.  These have their own unique dynamic and their own demands.
 
However, as natural as they are, making them work is not natural.  Though they exist, they are not naturally good.  It takes effort and work to make them good.  We must learn how to have relationships that enhance our lives rather than encumber them.  But, it is not easy!
 
The New Testament identifies so many relationship difficulties.  Notice these examples.  Jesus’ disciples had a contention over James and John asking for the righthand and lefthand places beside Jesus in His kingdom.  “And when the ten heard it they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.” (Mark 10:41).
 
Jesus told His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem and be killed.  “Then Peter took Him asked and began to rebuke Him…He (Jesus) rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan!’” (Mark 8:31-33).  “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed.” (Galatians 2:11).  Peter refused to eat with Gentiles Christians when some Jews appeared.  “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:2).  We don’t know what was the problem.  We only know that there was one.
 
Finally, notice that the entire letter of Paul to the church in Corinth revealed ongoing relationship problems.  “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Chrit, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (I Corinthians 1:10).  From that moment in the letter, Paul addressed so many different points of contention within the relationship of the church setting.
 
Now, lets consider a case of a proper relationship and learn the keys to making all of our relationships good.  David and Jonathan were good friends.  I Samuel 18:1 reveals the intensity of their relationship.  “…the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”  The verses that follow provide the keys to good relationships.
 
Good relationships…
*overlook differences without prejudice (I Samuel 18:1).  David was a shepherd. 
*are built on trust (I Samuel 18:3). 
*are sacrificial (I Samuel 18:4).
*speak well of each other (I Samuel 18:4).
*defend each other (I Samuel 19:4-5).
*desire the best for each other (I Samuel 20:13).
*want the Lord’s will to be done in each others’ lives (I Samuel 20:15; 23:17).
*encourage each other (I Samuel 23:16).
 
This sure sounds like Matthew 7:12!!!

— Mike Johnson