- Dec 28, 2016
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The Importance of Tending to our Most Precious Relationship
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY UNCEASINGLY, GIVE THANKS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES,
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS
Relationships are a certainty in this life. At every stage of life, we form attachments with those we gravitate toward when we recognize them holding similar qualities as we do with regards to interests, personalities, circumstances, perspectives. Sometimes friendships are formed by the differences we notice about one another, as we are drawn to those holding qualities we respect and desire to possess for ourselves. We develop these relationships by spending time on them. The more time we spend with that other person, the stronger and more personal our attachments become and the more we become like those we associate with.
How many of us here have great friendships, relationships? How many of us here have a best friend? Of those who do have a best friend, how many can say that they know their best friend like the back of their hand? How many can say that they will hear the voice of their best friend in the back of their minds and know, with an eerie degree of certainty, how that friend would think and feel and respond in a certain situation?
Such is the result of a real lasting friendship. When someone knows you well enough you end up sharing your personage with them and they with you. How much you rub off on each other is proportionate to the amount of time you spend in communication. We become who we associate with.
How many people are married? What about the marriage relationship? If you're not married to your best friend in the whole wide world then I don't know how you survive... but don't listen to me, I'm not married anyway! He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. It only makes sense that the one person you should want to spend the majority of your time with should be your spouse. Imagine how exciting and joyous life would be if you were both in permanent honeymoon mode. That's how happy the Lord wants us to be.
The downside of our relationships though, is that they don't always turn out. Sometimes they turn out terribly, and we're left with the sting of that person's voice in the back of our minds as one of many bitter mementos of a happier time. Though they may be distant, we cannot fully rid ourselves of that person who made such an impact on us because they've left an imprint in our hearts and minds. We feel deep infliction at the reminder of circumstances we once braved together with that special person, who was so much like us that we forgot where the "they" began and the "I" ended or where the "me" ended and the "them" began.
Reiterate:
REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY UNCEASINGLY, GIVE THANKS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES,
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS
The message of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 implores all Christians to consider the state of that most precious relationship that we each have as members of the faith; our unique relationship with Jesus Christ. When we are invited by a friend into their home, do we say "Thank you for inviting me in" and then proceed to sit on their couch, quietly watching the clock until it's time to get up and go back home? NO! And then next week when we are invited into their home again do we decline?.. Because even though it's a wonderful privilege, being your friend and such... I just don't feel like spending time with you. That's all!
No! We talk with them and ask them how they are. Sometimes it's not always good news, but as friends we're there to listen and sometimes all we need is to get things off our chests. Other times we can do things to help ease their burdens. We do these things because we love them, we've been shaped by them, they're like us, who would we be without them? Where would we be without them?
Is time not the very substance with which all relationships are founded upon? Is the investment of this substance not the sole perpetuator of the essence of the very concept?
We get busy-we ALL get busy. Sometimes we get busy attending to our needs. Other times we get busy attending to our wants. One thing is certain, and that is that when we get so busy attending to our wants not only do those wants multiply but our important relationships suffer in the process, and the vitalization of our true identity in Christ is neglected. Fortunately, the world we live in today is such that we don't physically need to travel to our friend's home to catch up with them and invest that precious relationship-building substance of time on them. We can communicate with on our phones and our internets. Mutual friends can tell us how everyone else is doing and relay messages. There are many ways we can communicate to our friends--
If the desire is there.
When we have no basis for a relationship with others, we consider them acquaintances, estranged family members and even strangers. We may be pleasant toward them but feel it a mere obligation to etiquette. If we were invited to spend time with them, we would decline as we would have better relationships to attend to, namely, our relationship to self-gratification.
As Christians, we are always invited into the home of our Lord. Not just once a week, but every moment of every day His door is ready to swing wide open and welcome us in and comfort us and be with us. He may not get back to us right away, He is rather busy, but the time we spend knocking won't be in vain. It will be returned in multitudes, unless we cease knocking.
Rejoice always: It's often overlooked just how much there is to be thankful to the Lord for every day. What gift can possibly compare to the gift of life the Lord has given us?
Pray unceasingly: Like you would converse with a loved one as though they were in front of you (maybe don't babble on in public to the wall, then people might think you're crazy) but prayer doesn't need to be formulaic. It can be a rambling supplication, it makes no difference. All He cares about is the earnest, contrite attempt at communication throughout the day.
Give thanks under all circumstances:
Philippians 4:12
The apostle Paul writes, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
If we are thankful in every circumstances, imagine how happy we'll be when He gives us more than we could possibly imagine.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY UNCEASINGLY, GIVE THANKS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES,
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS
Relationships are a certainty in this life. At every stage of life, we form attachments with those we gravitate toward when we recognize them holding similar qualities as we do with regards to interests, personalities, circumstances, perspectives. Sometimes friendships are formed by the differences we notice about one another, as we are drawn to those holding qualities we respect and desire to possess for ourselves. We develop these relationships by spending time on them. The more time we spend with that other person, the stronger and more personal our attachments become and the more we become like those we associate with.
How many of us here have great friendships, relationships? How many of us here have a best friend? Of those who do have a best friend, how many can say that they know their best friend like the back of their hand? How many can say that they will hear the voice of their best friend in the back of their minds and know, with an eerie degree of certainty, how that friend would think and feel and respond in a certain situation?
Such is the result of a real lasting friendship. When someone knows you well enough you end up sharing your personage with them and they with you. How much you rub off on each other is proportionate to the amount of time you spend in communication. We become who we associate with.
How many people are married? What about the marriage relationship? If you're not married to your best friend in the whole wide world then I don't know how you survive... but don't listen to me, I'm not married anyway! He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. It only makes sense that the one person you should want to spend the majority of your time with should be your spouse. Imagine how exciting and joyous life would be if you were both in permanent honeymoon mode. That's how happy the Lord wants us to be.
The downside of our relationships though, is that they don't always turn out. Sometimes they turn out terribly, and we're left with the sting of that person's voice in the back of our minds as one of many bitter mementos of a happier time. Though they may be distant, we cannot fully rid ourselves of that person who made such an impact on us because they've left an imprint in our hearts and minds. We feel deep infliction at the reminder of circumstances we once braved together with that special person, who was so much like us that we forgot where the "they" began and the "I" ended or where the "me" ended and the "them" began.
Reiterate:
REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY UNCEASINGLY, GIVE THANKS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES,
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS
The message of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 implores all Christians to consider the state of that most precious relationship that we each have as members of the faith; our unique relationship with Jesus Christ. When we are invited by a friend into their home, do we say "Thank you for inviting me in" and then proceed to sit on their couch, quietly watching the clock until it's time to get up and go back home? NO! And then next week when we are invited into their home again do we decline?.. Because even though it's a wonderful privilege, being your friend and such... I just don't feel like spending time with you. That's all!
No! We talk with them and ask them how they are. Sometimes it's not always good news, but as friends we're there to listen and sometimes all we need is to get things off our chests. Other times we can do things to help ease their burdens. We do these things because we love them, we've been shaped by them, they're like us, who would we be without them? Where would we be without them?
Is time not the very substance with which all relationships are founded upon? Is the investment of this substance not the sole perpetuator of the essence of the very concept?
We get busy-we ALL get busy. Sometimes we get busy attending to our needs. Other times we get busy attending to our wants. One thing is certain, and that is that when we get so busy attending to our wants not only do those wants multiply but our important relationships suffer in the process, and the vitalization of our true identity in Christ is neglected. Fortunately, the world we live in today is such that we don't physically need to travel to our friend's home to catch up with them and invest that precious relationship-building substance of time on them. We can communicate with on our phones and our internets. Mutual friends can tell us how everyone else is doing and relay messages. There are many ways we can communicate to our friends--
If the desire is there.
When we have no basis for a relationship with others, we consider them acquaintances, estranged family members and even strangers. We may be pleasant toward them but feel it a mere obligation to etiquette. If we were invited to spend time with them, we would decline as we would have better relationships to attend to, namely, our relationship to self-gratification.
As Christians, we are always invited into the home of our Lord. Not just once a week, but every moment of every day His door is ready to swing wide open and welcome us in and comfort us and be with us. He may not get back to us right away, He is rather busy, but the time we spend knocking won't be in vain. It will be returned in multitudes, unless we cease knocking.
Rejoice always: It's often overlooked just how much there is to be thankful to the Lord for every day. What gift can possibly compare to the gift of life the Lord has given us?
Pray unceasingly: Like you would converse with a loved one as though they were in front of you (maybe don't babble on in public to the wall, then people might think you're crazy) but prayer doesn't need to be formulaic. It can be a rambling supplication, it makes no difference. All He cares about is the earnest, contrite attempt at communication throughout the day.
Give thanks under all circumstances:
Philippians 4:12
The apostle Paul writes, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
If we are thankful in every circumstances, imagine how happy we'll be when He gives us more than we could possibly imagine.
