Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)
Since the beginning of time, God has valued unity. Having fellowship together - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit serving one another out of humility and love.
Relationships are generally under attack because the enemy knows that where there is unity, God's blessing follows (Psalm 133:1-3). As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 also tells us, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up."
God is for marriage, He is for relationships. In essence, marriage is the perfect example of the relationship that Christ has with the church, His bride. It is humbling - the laying down of lives for one another. To grow together, learn from one another, and strive to become more like Christ.
How come when we look at the world, it doesn't always seem so loving? A lot of relationships are falling apart, and people who used to love each other can't seem to see eye to eye anymore. We can't help to stop in our tracks and notice that something is wrong. Have we become so accustomed to the world's rhythm that we've let pride and selfish ambition take over the steering wheel?
When these questions come to mind, the best place to go is the Word. What is the truth and what does God's word say are the key elements that make a relationship work? What can we look out for in potential relationships and what should we not settle for?
Philippians 2, not only talks about the humility of Christ but also how to be united with Him. From a godly perspective, marriage is nothing other than being united with Christ. When man and woman come together under God's covenant, they are united with Christ. So when Paul writes in Philippians 2:1-4, he is addressing relationships. We all have a desire in our hearts to be loved and to love. Paul says if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, almost to say if you have any desire in your heart to live in unity with one another and with Christ, then make my joy complete by striving for the following in a relationship:
1. Be like-minded:
In a relationship, there will be things that you won't always agree on 100%. But you should mostly share the same opinions, ideas, or interests.
2. Have the same love:
Paul says, we shouldn't only think the same in our minds, but we must also have the same love in our hearts for each other. So our love shouldn't fluctuate. We should never allow our personal feelings and what happened in our day to determine how much we love one another. If we love based on the love of Christ, we will love one another with an everlasting love, without condition. Having Christ as our foundation.
3. Be one in spirit and of one mind:
Someone once said that in a relationship you are a team, running a race together called "Life". You should have the same mission and destination in mind. It doesn't make sense to be in a relationship where you are running in opposite directions. Do you have the same vision and mission in mind?
4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit:
Just as Christ laid Himself down for the church, His bride, so should we value the desires of the other person above ourselves. Christ came to the world to serve and not to be served. That was His expectation from stepping into a relationship with His bride. What is yours?
5. Live in humility:
In relationships, we learn from one another, and we grow together, but we should also intercede for one another. We need to find ways that we can build each other up and motivate one another to cultivate the gifts and talents that God gave us. So that we can excel in the fulness of Christ.
Being in a relationship is raw, beautiful, and wild. What a journey and adventure God has planned for us. Yet, we have the choice to follow His guidelines and use His word as our reference.
Love is powerful (Song of Solomon 8:6), when those with the same mind, love, and spirit come together under the covenant of Christ, wanting the compassion and tenderness of His Spirit, there is absolutely no way that God's blessing won't follow. His guidance and peace will lead you to be an example to all those around you. Not only so, but also to teach your children and the generations to come of how to live in unity with one another and with Christ (Proverbs 22:6).
Alleluia + Awesome God - Chris Quilala & Zahriya Zachary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrj2QSEpiwI&list=RDQrj2QSEpiwI&start_radio=1)
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