Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
To belong is to be loved and to give love. Your identity is shaped when a community brings you in and validates that you belong and when you validate for others that they belong. However, the greatest validation that brings peace, security, joy, and growth in our lives is when the community we belong to Echoes the Word of God and His design for our lives.
“When we live outside of a healthy community, we not only lose others. We lose ourselves…Who we understand ourselves to be is dramatically affected for better or worse by those we hold closest to us. We only truly come to know ourselves in the context of others. The more isolated and disconnected we are, the more shattered and distorted our self-identity. We are not healthy when we are alone. We find ourselves as we connect to others.” Erwin McManus
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38 NLT
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:36-37 NLT
MATURITY SAYS, “I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF MY LIFE AND FOR MY PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.”
4 THINGS THAT DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS
1. Selfishness destroys relationships
‘What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. ‘ James 4:1-2 NLT
‘Selfishness only causes trouble. You are much better off to trust the LORD. ‘ Proverbs 28:25 GNB
2. Pride destroys relationships
‘Pride leads to conflict… Proverbs 13:10 NLT
‘Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.’ Proverbs 16:18 NLT
‘First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.’ Proverbs 16:18 MSG
3. Insecurity destroys relationships
‘The fear of human opinion disables… Proverbs 29:25 MSG
4. Resentment destroys relationships
‘Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.’ Psalms 73:21-22 NLT
‘Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. ‘ Hebrews 12:15 NLT
3 BENEFITS OF A LIFE-GIVING COMMUNITY
‘How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.’ Psalms 133:1-3 NLT
1. THERE IS AN ANOINTING IN OUR LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Psalms 133:2 NLT
The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the Divine word of salvation. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
2. THERE IS A HOPEFUL ANTICIPATION IN OUR LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. Psalms 133:3 NLT
3. THERE IS A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN IN OUR LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:3 NLT
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 NLT
So let each individual first evaluate his own attitude and only then eat the bread and drink the cup. For continually eating and drinking with a wrong spirit will bring judgment upon yourself by not recognizing the body. This insensitivity is why many of you are weak, chronically ill, and some even dying. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 TPT