PDL - Made for Relationships

For Sunday Fellowship on 31st May 2009, we had another series of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. The topic we focused on was 'Made for Relationships'.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

In Romans 12:9-16, it states that God wants us to have fellowship with the church, which is, other fellow Christians. However, there are 5 blocks we have to overcome in order to have true relationships.

1st Block - Authencity.
We should take off our "masks" and be truthful to others. "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." 1 John 1:6 says that when we lie, we fool ourselves, not others.

2nd Block - Courtesy.
"to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:2 tells us to respect and love like a brother.
An example : If someone has a problem and comes to talk to you about it, you have to be willing to listen instead of trying to resolve the issue on the spot. This is validation and tactfulness, showing that you understand that if you were in the other person's shoes, you wouldn't have known what to do.

3rd Block - Mutuality.
It's a 2 way relationship on "you care, I care". For those who have studied Biology, the definition of mutualism is "a relationship between 2 organisms in which both organisms benefit."
"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" - Ecclesiastes 4:10
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
According to Hebrews 10:24, we should consistantly give mutual encouragement, mutual honoring and mutual accountability to our fellow community.

4th Block - Hospitality
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts," - Acts 2:46
"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." - 2 Timothy 2:22

5th Block - Unity
"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." - Romans 12:16
Humility is an important aspect to being united.