Relation with each other

Relate to creatures in the universe

Ourselves being creatures in the universe with a confined life span, we do have to find the right way to relate to the other beings around us.

Responsive & Interactive

Nobody really can live on his own without others. If we want it or not, we do need others around.

In case you think you can be on your own, imagine how you would live on a desert island or in a region where there are no other living beings (no people, no animals, no plants). How would you be able to survive?

Everything that we can see around us is something we can and should relate to. The relationship shall be different according to the element, being just a lifeless organic material, a plant, an animal or a human being.

One could say that one of the most rewarding things in all the world is to relate well to other people. When such bridges can be build, communications made in a handy way, life can be made much easier than facing obstructions to communicate.

Man has the capacity to make things himself. But when everything he does or creates would just be for himself it would not have so much value. The Divine Maker has given each being many possibilities to realize many things in life. We can build great bridges, create a masterpiece, compose an oratorio, write a bestseller, go to the moon, invent ingenious machinery; or do many other things — but nothing we accomplish is of much value unless it has relevance to other people.

People are God’s masterpieces who need interaction and responses to their actions and reactions.

After God had created the heavens and the earth and every living thing on it He came to make man in His own image (Genesis 1:26). Undoubtedly, one of the reasons He created man was to have someone with whom He could fellowship, because we read in the Bible (the Power to change) that God had fellowship with Adam. God wanted to relate to His creatures. From the beginning it was in His Plan to relate to human beings. He also wanted them to relate to each other according to His Will, respecting each other and living together in unison with the rest of His creation.

Love and hate

[From the Glasgow Kelvin Brethren]

There are generally four Greek words used for “love”, only two of which are used in the New Testament.  One is “phileo”, which is a word denoting affection – the type of natural affection we might have for a dear friend or a member of our family.  The second word is “agape” which refers to a deliberate act of the mind and will, which overcomes our natural inclinations, is beyond affection, and has a sacrificial quality about it.

John 21:15-17  is an interesting example of the usage of these two words for love:

15   So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16   He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17   He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, Lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.(John 21)

Hate is another thing altogether. In the Bible it too comes in two different forms – in one usage it is an evil characteristic, but in another sense, not quite so evil.  I suppose a simple definition would be

“hate is the absence of love.”

In the extreme sense, hate is usually displayed by an active, evident sense of aggression, but in the Bible hate can go further than that.   Leviticus 19:17 laid down the principle:

“thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart:”

One was not even supposed to harbour hate secretly in one’s heart!  This Old Testament principle therefore preceded the New Testament commandment shown below:

“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”(1 John 2: 9-11)

A very extreme use of the word “hate” is in Luke 14:

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”(Luke14:26)

How could Jesus possibly encourage us to hate our own family?
Another passage is Romans 9:13 when God says:

“Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

What does it mean?  Does God hate people?

Using a reliable dictionary of New Testament words, in this case Vine’s, we find that the word which is translated “hate” can bear the meaning of “relative preference for one thing over another”. So, in the case of the quotation from Luke’s Gospel above, the point is being made that we should choose to be a disciple of Christ over and above the claims our family may have upon us, or that we should disregard our own life relative to the claims Christ has upon us.

Similarly, in the passage about Jacob and Esau, who were twin brothers, God in His foreknowledge knew that Jacob would be obedient to him, whereas He could foresee that Esau would be “a profane person” (Hebrews 12:16). Therefore, God showed a preference for Jacob over Esau.
In all these matters we are invited to be like God – Matthew 5:32-48, where Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, says:

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy’   But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?  Do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ ”   (Matthew 5:43-48)

The only way to find out more about how we should lead our lives and how we should love God and each other is to read His word, the Bible.

–   We have a Free Bible reading course which we hope will help you in your reading and understanding of the Bible.

Not evident

Although there are millions of people who don’t understand others and can’t get along, there are millions who can and do. Their lives are happy and radiant.

They have learned how to relate to people. And because they do, their lives are richer. Not only do they make others happy; they make themselves happy too.

Such understanding of each other does not come automatically. It demands a right set of mind. to come to understand others there has to be a willingness to understand them. We have to open our mind to come metaphorically closer to them.

Once we are born, we have to relate to the things around us. For the material things we do have to come to see how they work or for what we can use them. For living beings (plants, animals and human beings) we have to look at them and see what they can mean for us. Growing up we do need to learn from our experiences and then we do need to grow in our understanding. There are certain helpful insights to be learned. A person does not suddenly become a ventriloquist, architect, or artist. He shall need others to learn him to become something and to learn a trade. To be able to succeed in his profession he shall need good relationships.

So it is if we are going to become specialists in getting along with people we do need some insights and principles to understand and practice.

Even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, asked God to give him above everything else, “an understanding heart,” and perhaps that was one of the greatest proofs of his wisdom!

Words to remember for building some good relationship

To get to know others well and to get to know God better we have been given a book of books that can lead us the way.

We should remember what is written in it not to forget the teachings of the Most High:

1 My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:  2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you.  Bind them around your neck.  Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor Jehovah with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise Jehovah’s discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof: 12 for whom Jehovah loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,  the man who gets understanding.  14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

19 By wisdom Jehovah founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.  20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew. 21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:  22 so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck.  23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.  24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear,  neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: 26 for Jehovah will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.  27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.  29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you. 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways.  32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah, but his friendship is with the upright.

33 Jehovah’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.  34 Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools. (Proverbs 3 NHBEJ)

Interracial Relationships

[From the Glasgow Kelvin Brethren]

In the Bible there are two main groups of people: Jews and Gentiles (anyone who is not a Jew.) The Jews, also known as the Israelites, became a nation during their captivity in Egypt:

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7)

As the account progresses through Exodus we read how Moses lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and how they wandered through the wilderness for forty years. During this time God gave the Israelites laws and commandments.  God also declared to them that they were His special chosen people:

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)

The word “holy” means separate and the Israelites were instructed to keep themselves separate from the nations around them. This covered all aspects of life, including relationships. God did not permit them to have interracial relationships. Why?
The following passage explains:

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. (Exodus 34:14-17)

The emphasis here is on the instruction to worship only the one true God of heaven. This cause and effect reasoning asserts that if the children of Israel were to mingle with the nations around them and take wives, they were also in danger of turning to other gods. So the principle behind the commandment not to have interracial relationships, was to keep themselves pure in their worship of God. This Biblical principle threads its way throughout the Bible, but does it only apply to the Jews, who are special in God’s eyes?

A quick glance at some New Testament verses sheds a different light on things:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:34-35)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galations 3:28)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (Romans 3:23, 29-30)

These New Testament scriptures paint quite a different picture of equality, in contrast to the elitism of Deuteronomy 7. So how do we reconcile these two seemingly contradictory concepts?

As the historical account unfolds through the Bible we learn that the Jews did not keep God’s commandments and went a whoring with the nations around them and worshipped their gods. Later they rejected both Jesus as their messiah, and the gospel message; the way of salvation was therefore offered to the Gentiles. The following passage from Acts comments on this, addressing the Jews:

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. (Acts 13:46-47)

Romans 11:11 explains how this had a dual purpose, that “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” So the intent is that God wants “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4). We all have the opportunity to become God’s special chosen people and one in Christ.
So then, if we are all now considered the same in God’s eyes, interracial relationships are fully permitted? Not quite. Hebrews 10:1 states that the old law was “a shadow of good things to come” and so the same principles are carried through into the New Testament scriptures. It therefore follows that if we are now God’s chosen special people, God expects the same from us, in principle, as He did the Jews under the old law. The children of Israel were told to be separate, or holy, as are we:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

We are to be holy or separate in all aspects of life, but from whom? Just like the children of Israel – from those who do not serve the same God of heaven. Jesus explains the reasoning behind this principle:

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)

Just as Israel was told by God, in Exodus 34, not to go a whoring after the gods of the nations around them, so are we:

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)

A friendship with the world could be any person or thing that pulls us away from God. So we must be very careful in our relationship choices, whether they be friends or life-long partners. The Bible comments specifically on this:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

Now that we can all be one in Christ, God is not concerned with where we come from or to which earthly race we belong. It is no longer a question whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, but rather whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, in God’s eyes. The only interracial relationship that we are warned against is a union with the world, with unbelievers and things in our lives that can draw us away from God. All our relationship decisions should be based around and not hinder, the most important relationship in our lives: our relationship with our God .The only way to further our relationship with God is by reading the Bible and understanding what it says.  Please apply for our Learn to Read the Bible Effectively Course so that you can learn more about God and His plan and purpose?

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