New Reminders: Relationships

The Bee Gees were one of the most successful singing groups of the 1970s with their tight harmony, energetic songs, and trademark falsetto voices.  You don’t have to be from that era to recall one of their biggest hits, Staying Alive.  The famed trio was comprised of three brothers, and Barry Gibb is the lone survivor.  Maurice and Robin died in 2003 and 2012 respectively.  They started harmonizing when they were children and seemingly could churn out songs almost spontaneously.  As the fame and money skyrocketed, their egos did the same.  Sibling rivalry created tension, destructive choices, and a falling out.  In a 2021 interview, Barry stated, “Looking back, what I regret most is that I had a falling out with my brothers.”  Life’s biggest regrets are usually relational because nothing compares to the value of family and friends. Saturday Evening Post, January/February 2021, p.25.

The closer the relationship, the more damaging the breakup.  A line from a song goes, “You only hurt the ones you love…” rings true.  Casual associates who go their separate ways are often hardly noticed by either party because there was no true and lasting relationship to begin with.  Losing a close friend or relative, on the other hand, can be very traumatic for both parties.  Weather the relationship falls apart because of neglect, a difference of opinion, or a perceived deliberate slight, by one or the other, the loss of the warmth and closeness of the friendship is likely to be deeply felt by both people.

The same is true of our friendship with Jesus.  If we have developed a close relationship, we can’t help but regret it if we pull away from that relationship in favor of our busy lives, our human relationships with others who do not share our devotion to Christ. We might lose a friend through thoughtlessness or deliberate actions or when we fail to live up to our commitment to live a Christ-centered life. 

Friendships of all kinds require nurturing, faithful execution of promises and shared values.  They require contact, communication and cooperation. They involve association, affinity and affection. Some relationships are more one-sided than others, such as our relationship with God.  While our side of the relationship may be less than fully competent, God’s side is perfect.  He is fully faithful and lives up to His promises, we are not capable of perfection.  This does not absolve us from trying our best.

The Bible emphasizes that strong, healthy relationships, including friendships, are vital for human well-being and are a reflection of God's relational nature.  Proverbs 12:26 states: “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  The importance of love and loyalty, in friendships helps us navigate challenging relationships.

Proverbs 13:20 says: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”   Walking in the wisdom of God can keep us from making unwise friendships that can lead us astray.