September 3

by Michael McDermott

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER RELATIONSHIPS

2 Corinthians 6:14-16a “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God…”

 

            All of us are impacted positively and negatively through our relationships.  That can greatly influence our quality of life and can be the difference between having a good day and a bad day.  So, choosing the right people to connect to is important.  Today’s devotional in the New Testament gives us six words that that we can use to evaluate and assess our relationships:

YOKED – “Are you walking the same path?”

FELLOWSHIP – “Is there a real partnership?”

COMMUNION – “Is there a level of intimacy?”

ACCORD – “Is there harmony?”

PART – “Do you share a lot in common?”

AGREEMENT – “Is there agreement about views, values, and perspectives?”

            The answer to these questions will help you to determine if you need to be closely connected to someone or keep them as an acquaintance.

            Later in today’s New Testament reading Paul makes this statement in 2 Corinthians 7:6 – “Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”  Paul was in need of a boost and God sent it in the form of a relationship.  Do the people in your life boost you or bust you?

            (For more on relationships check out today’s Old Testament reading in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)