The Most Important Thing we have....

[BrotherBallard]

Relationship, THE most important thing we have in this life! Men, sometimes relationships get in our way of achieving the goals that we have planned for our lives and our futures. This applies to the workaholics, the Pastors/ministers/lay members that are continuously working in or around the Church, the men who feel like if they don't do a certain jobs then it will not get done, etc.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

How is the relationship with:

My Lord
My Wife
My Children
My Parents
My Church Family
My Friendships
My Family (Brothers, Sisters, Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, etc)
My Co-workers
My Neighbors

What are you doing to cultivate the relationships you have with those around you? There is nothing more important than relationship. If you are in “dire straits” with someone, do what you can to resolve the conflicting issues that are separating those that are closest to you. There are times when you’ve done all you can to remove any obstacles that are hindering the relationship between you and another person. When you’ve sincerely done that, then lay that particular Relationship in the Hand of the Lord.
We need relationship!

Relationship with the Lord is what our primary focus in life should be, then after that we can look to the above list or one that you have constructed in your mind.

Relationship is a state of “connectedness.” We can not have relationships, if we are only concerned with ourselves, or with the issues that only affect us. Relationship is a giving experience; we are to prefer others, instead of ourselves. We are to help those who can not help themselves. We are to feel the need of those in pain, whether it’s emotional, spiritual or physical.

Relationship breaks the boundaries of selfishness. Relationship is what can heal deep emotional wounds and scars. Relationship is what can bring a smile to a broken person. Relationship is what can dry the eyes of a child who has been through a divorce. Relationship is what can walk with a Brother or Sister in the darkest of trials. Relationship is what can mend riffs between to opposing parties. Relationship is what can hold the hand of the elderly. Relationship is what can bond a Husband and Wife for eternity. Relationship is what can support a prisoner when all hope is lost. Relationship is what can gently support the individual who has lost all of their family. Relationship is what can calm the troubled teen, or the runaway that feels all is lost. Relationship is what can bring joy to the mother and her newborn. Relationship is a list that can go on and on.

Is Relationship easy? No. Does it come quickly? Sometimes, but most of the time it’s something that is cultivated.

Relationship, THE most important thing we have in this life.

In His Name!!!

[NanaRenan]

Lovely -- just lovely.

Thank you for sharing that, BrotherBallard

[florahall]

Good post Brother Ballard,

I just come from the services ofUPC churchof Brother Bo K. in Lake tapps and there was a speaker name Brother White from Arizona.
He talk about , the Garment of the pastor and our relastionship to our Pastor.
I wish everybody could hear his preaching for it is good to be applied in our churches. But any way it was a good preaching and he mention, about how important is the relationship than talent. He said that you can have the talent and knowledge about the bible., but it you dont have a good relationship to God you are nothing. Your talent is useless if you have bad relationship.

praise the lord everybody, let us build a good relationship to our family and to our God. Your knowledge of the bible is not good enough for you to say that you have the holy ghost, and you are save, but it is your relationship and behavior towards God.

Sister Flora Hall

[Praxeas]

I agree, relationship is important to every facet of our life. Reading your post reminded me of a sermon I heard Bro. J. T. Pugh preach, "Something Better Than Heaven and Something Worse Than Hell." In it he said that what makes Heaven so sweet is those we will be with there that we had relationships with here.

Also, Lam. 3:22-23 is an important aspect of relationship because it is God's compassion for us that opens the door of mercy to us. This is only possible when relationship exists and we know that God's relationship with us began before we were ever born.

Anyway, before I get off topic, thank you for reminding us of the necessity of relationship.

[witness4jesus]

Thank you, Brother Praxeas. Compassion is a very important quality
to have. If someone does not have mercy or compassion, then I
would have a hard time believing that they are of God. The epistles
of John were all about loving the brethren, as God loved us.

1 Corinthians so aptly put that we can know everything there is to
know and have all the gifts, but if we don't have love for our
brother or sister, then we might as well have nothing.

Why do we tell people about Jesus? Isn't it so that they too can
know Him, that He can heal their lives also? Even people who are
opposed we are to tell the truth IN LOVE.

The apostles had to fight some serious spiritual battles as all the
powers of the devil came against them, yet they could love even
their enemy, and want them to be saved.

Sis Pam

[Praxeas]

I also think that integrity is as important as relationship, if not more so.

[BrotherBallard]

I also think that integrity is as important as relationship, if not more so.
Let me ask a question can you have integrity without "relationship?" Probably not, since true relationship is a giving experience and then with that comes integrity, but I doubt you could have integrity on its own. Because if you didn't have "relationship" it would be very one sided/selfish and integrity isn't in selfishness.

So Relationship is the most important thing we have, in order to have integrity with the Lord we first must build on the relationship with Him then ALL other areas of our life will be affected, including integrity! :tup:

[Praxeas]

Geeze...nine months later, Ballard! :wah:

[BrotherBallard]

*snicker*

Ok, just call me a very sllloowww typist! :yeah: