RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who
loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8).
Many people demonstrate that their need to win when trying to
resolve conflicts with others is greater than their regard for
relationships. Why is winning so important to us? Why must we
always be right? The person who is driven to win, to be right, or
to be first is insecure. Insecure people are driven to perform.
Security comes from relationships, not achievements. A secure
person is a person who is comfortable with himself and others. It
is easy to communicate with a secure person, but you often end up
clashing with a driven person. Would you rather be a lover or an
achiever? Which would you prefer your spouse, children, coworkers
and friends to be?
Relationships are more important than achievements to God. Jesus
declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God and
love people (Matthew 22:36-40). The purpose of the Word of God is
to govern our relationships with God and man. If our achievements
in life don't enhance our relationships with God, our spouse and
children, and others, then we are not fulfilling God's
commandments.
Is there ever a time when we need to assert ourselves in
conflicts? Yes, we need to stand our ground on moral issues. But
we never have the right to violate the fruit of the Spirit in
doing so. If what you do can't be done in love and self-control,
then maybe it's better left undone. And remember: Your authority
does not increase with the volume of your voice. When you resort
to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have
lost control of the only person you can control: yourself.
Anyone who accomplishes something at the expense of people or
elevates tasks over relationships will sow the seeds of their own
destruction and the destruction of those around them.
Governments, institutions and organizations exist for the cause
and needs of people. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for
the Sabbath. How easy it is to turn our priorities upside down.
Gracious Lord, help me today to love people and use things, and
not to love things and use people.
Yahoo! Mail
Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour
Ask our other classmates to subscribe, tell them to send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yahoo! Groups Links
- To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4c-math94/
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
