RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT II

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S LOVE, THE BEST MODEL

By

Briggs Deborah Okorite 

Thank you for sticking around!

It is always a pleasure sharing what is laid on my heart.

I’m sure a number of you were expecting more from the last post. Well, I tried to first of all paint a particular picture through an experience rather than just go straight so you have an idea of where I’m going.

I personally hate it (and it really isn’t about me) when someone asks me for love when I don’t know you😌

 

That’s one reason why I do tell young people to have purposeful friendships and to know what they want. Who are your circle of friends? What do you intend to achieve in this life? Do you believe similar things? Do you share the same faith?

I wrote about how knowledge being  one of the basic foundation for a healthy relationship. It is very important what you know as that would determine how you live.

I hope to give you a picture of what is in God’s word and things you need to know.

Here we go💃

The ones who feel they are entitled to your friendship.
Especially with the rise of social media, some don’t want to apply common sense in this life again. Just because someone refuses to be friends with you doesn’t make you any less of a man. It’s more common with guys but I stand to be corrected!

Same goes for ladies tho, you’re too precious to think a man defines you. He DOES NOT complete you either! He is NOT your other half or better half, neither are you!

The truth is no one owes you! Stop going around with that mentality. You don’t have to rub your ‘superiority’ in, you also don’t have to be demanding about it.

Most of the times, people who do this have low self esteem. The truth is if you’re confident about yourself, you won’t need some form of validation or a friendship to prove that.
Guys, stop being friends with ladies for show off! I wish it was attractive and sadly the world makes it appears so! I also understand that you think it boasts your ego but Christ would rather have you humble than proud. It’s never really been about you but the One you are living for!

I appreciate friendships a lot but I withdraw when I sense you’re demanding or making it seem like I owe you. That is one reason why I like using God’s love for us as it is the best model and form of friendship. “He laid down his life for us.”

There was a purpose He wanted to achieve, not a selfish one but one seeking to bring out the best in us.

Friendship are gifts not rights. They are enjoyed when the parties involved give themselves room to be themselves.

The ones who feel they can’t live without you

Seriously, we all know this is cliché 🤥Look for better punchlines, like try harder😂

You don’t have to lie to get her attention, brother! I literally shake my head when I hear this because your friendship with that person is not what guarantees your life. Christ does!

Excuse me sir, you have been doing just fine before you knew me. How come I have now become your life on our first few encounters? This is what certain movies have portrayed and a lot of Christians learn more from the movies than what the Word says. Why is that?

Let me remind you: to live is Christ! He defines you! When you seek to pursue friendships with this attitude, you get better results. Your life is not meant to be lived based on someone else’s but on Christ’s.

A better way to say this is “thank you for being a part of my life”. Appreciate their worth rather than stating yours in theirs. That’s how relationships grow!

 

The ones who always jump into conclusions.
“You didn’t pick my calls because you are avoiding me.” “You did not reply my message because of this and that”🤤 You repel people with this kind of possessive attitude because 90% of the times we conclude about people, we are wrong.

You need to understand that love is not hasty in its conclusions as it gives room for others to express themselves.

I could go on and on but let’s take a critical look at a part of 1 Corinthians 13. I absolutely love the Amplified version on this one!

 

“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious;

love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.

It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.

It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation],

love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4‭-‬7‭, ‬13

Love does not brag: Bragging, pride or arrogance is not a fruit of the Spirit. It’s not your nature! Live in accordance to who you are in Christ.

Love is patient: James was the one who said we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. He is right! That takes lots of patience on our part as we all want to be heard rather than seek to understand others.

Love certainly does not seek for unnecessary attention and drama as well! 

This is God’s love towards you regardless of who you are. Your relationship with people will become better when you understand God’s love for you. It is purposeful and proactive in nature. It is seeking to meet the needs of the other person rather than yours. It is truly knowing that your love isn’t sufficient for the person and also that you cannot meet all of the person’s need.

That’s the truth! Not in your own strength but through the Spirit in you. You need to seek for these to reflect in your life to expect the same from other people. God’s kind of love must always be the standard! This is one of the basic knowledge you need! We would only see its impact if only we do what the word says!

On the next series on this, expect knowing God’s plan for relationships.

 

Share your thoughts! I would love to hear from you😄

 

Questions? 

Feel free to contact me –

Email: briggsdeborahokorite@gmail.com

Facebook: Briggs Deborah Okorite 

Instagram: briggs_deborah