Relationships are very powerful tools used to help shape both our individual and corporate destinies. All of us are where we are in life based on the relationships we establish throughout the various stages of life. God, Himself is the author of relationships (Gen. 2:18 “it is not good for man to be alone…”), and He desires for us to have a healthy relationship with Him and with each other. In fact, the greatest and 2^nd greatest commandments have to do with relationships (Matt. 22:36-40). This was the purpose in the Lord’s coming to Earth as Jesus Christ-relational restoration.  God could have resolved our sins and restored us with a simple word decree, but rather he chose to come in the form of a baby, have a relationship with his parents and siblings, and even chose 12 disciples to be in relationship with while He went about fulfilling His earthly ministry. The Lord loves to be in relationship with us! Jesus endured all of what He went through for us to have the opportunity to be in covenant relationship with God the Father.

Key truths about relationships

ü Not all relationships are healthy/sanctioned by god.  (2 Corinthians 6:14)

ü Relationships testify to others about who we are.   (John 13:35)

ü Relationships will often position us for favor.  (Genesis 39:21)   

ü Relationships will either empower us, enable us, or entangle us.  (Proverbs 13:20)

Establishing healthy relationships

Healthy relationships are those relationships that provide: 

A.) Accountability

B.) Support

C.) Strength

D.)Connectivity/Fellowship

E.) Encouragement 

How do we maintain healthy relationships?

I. Choose being __Happy___________ over being right.

Proverbs 3:13 “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” 

II. Attack the ___problem___________ - not the person.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

III. Avoid Making ___unhealthy____________ comparisons.

1 Samuel 18:6-8 (AMP) ⁶ As they were coming [home], when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, [songs of] joy, and ^[a]musical instruments. ⁷ The women sang as they played and danced, saying,

“Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousand.”

⁸ Then Saul became very angry, for this saying ^[b]displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousand, but to me, they have ascribed [only] thousands. Now, what more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹ Saul looked at David with suspicion [and jealously] from that day forward.

IV. Be ___truthful_____________ without being harmful.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

Matthew 10:16b (KJV) “Be ye, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

V. Be __yielding_______________ to each other to maximize effectiveness and Productivity.

Ephesians 5:20-23 (KJV) ²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. ²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.

Book Resource: The Relationship Skills Workbook: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to a Thriving Relationship – Dr. Julia B. Colwell