Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives. They can bring us joy, support, and love. They can also challenge us, teach us, and help us grow.  By looking at the Bible, we can learn powerful principles for establishing strong relationships.  

There are few things in life that are more important than the people you choose to surround yourself with.  The people you spend time with will have a big impact on your life.  Choose your friends and partners wisely. 

The Crowd, The Committed, and The Core

Jesus had three circles of people in his life.  First, he had The Crowd.  The Crowd was the larger group of people who followed and supported Him throughout His ministry, whom He invested time and energy into mentoring and teaching.  Second, he had The Committed.  These were his 12 disciples, people he called from among the crowd to closeness on a deeper level.  And finally, he had The Core. Jesus’ Core was composed of just a few men, who He invited to be a part of the most personal moments of His ministry, like when He was transfigured.  As we model our lives after Jesus, we too should have these three circles of godly relationships in our lives.  

The Hallmarks of Powerful Partnerships

Every powerful partnership is marked by these four traits: Truth, Honor, and Love.

Hallmark 1: Truth

You can’t have a partnership in business, in friendship, or marriage without truth.  It’s essential to have people who can see the blind spots in your life and who love you enough to express them truthfully.  

Ephesians 4:15

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

We have to be willing to speak the truth in love.  It’s not simply enough to only speak the truth, we have to do it kindly, empathetically, and caringly so that people will hear us and want to change.   

Good communication is essential for any healthy relationship. Don’t lie.  The more you do it, the more your heart becomes hardened to it.  And the more your heart becomes hardened to it, the more you begin to believe your own lies.  Be honest with your friends and be willing to share your thoughts and feelings.  We can build powerful partnerships when truth is at the core.  

If you’re in a relationship with a lack of truth, don’t be discouraged.  Perhaps you’ve lied and covered up an addiction or habit.  You can begin to tell the truth at any time.  You can make a decision that you’re no longer going to live a lie or misrepresent the facts.  As you move forward, it will be in the power of the Holy Spirit.  You can step into truth right now.  

Hallmark 2: Honor 

Powerful partnerships are built on honor.  Biblical honor is seeing the worth and value in people that God sees in them.  God sees tremendous value in people, so make sure to esteem them highly and give people honor. 

Matthew 5:18 (NIV)

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

In this passage of scripture, Jesus is saying that it’s one thing to call someone a libelous name that will get you thrown in jail, but it’s another thing altogether to call them a name out of a hateful heart posture.  That will endanger you of hellfire. 

We have to learn to honor on the inside, not just demonstrate it on the outside. We must learn to internally appreciate and value people and then let our actions toward them be an overflow of what is in our hearts.  Respect is passive and internal, while honor is active and expressed outwardly.  

Honor is a decision.  It is a language and a way you speak about people.  And honor is a lifestyle.  Powerful relationships are built on a bedrock of honor.  

Hallmark 3: Love 

1 Corinthians 13 is called “The Love Chapter” and lays out God’s blueprint for love.  Verse one says, “ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”  No offense to percussionists, but no one likes the sound of a cymbal just by itself.  

Verse four goes on to say, “ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”  If you want a functional relationship, one of the greatest ways you can show love is to stop bringing up the past. Stop reminding people of things that God (and you) forgave them for a long time ago.  Everyone makes mistakes. When your friends or spouse hurt you, be willing to forgive them and move on. Holding on to anger and resentment will only hurt you in the long run.

Conclusion

Relationships are a gift from God. They can enrich our lives and help us to become the people God created us to be. Let us all strive to build strong relationships that will last a lifetime.

Relationships are a vital part of our lives. They can bring us joy, support, and love. By following these principles, we can build healthy relationships that will enrich our lives for years to come.