The more time I spend in Scripture the more convinced I become of how important relationships are to God. But relationships are not just important to God, they are important to us as human beings. From the beginning of time man has had a need to have relationship even when he had sweet fellowship with God himself.
We were created to engage in relationship with others.
Adam walked in the cool of the garden with God, he enjoyed wide open fellowship with his creator. But as he named the animals he noticed they came in pairs. Each male had a companion. This must have registered in Adam’s heart. God knew Adam needed help so he caused a deep sleep to come upon him and he made a woman for Adam from Adam’s rib.
Adam knew he needed relationship in this life with another human being.
We are all in the same condition as Adam. We are created to have relationship. Some happen to be better at it than others.
One thing is for certain ever since Adam sinned relationship dysfunction has been a reality.
Sin caused Adam to blame Eve. The person he longed for, and loved to the point of sacrifing for he later blamed. This is true because sin brings dysfunction into any relationship. Think about it. Adam was willing to wilfully partake of the fruit knowing it was forbidden because of his desire for Eve. But after it was accomplished and sin was conceived Adam was trying to put the blam on her.
Sin devalues relationship. The absence of valuing relationships and the inability to give honor to whom honor is due is a reflection of decay and weakness, not strength.
It is a common place practice in the world, but did you know Christians struggle with this as well?
James 4:1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong —you want only what will give you pleasure.
It is possible to be born again and still be engaged in dysfunctional relationships all around you. Believers can continue to be carnal.
Jealousy and envy are still alive and well in humanity and the church is made up of redeemed human beings. If we stray from holding the Lord as precious and seeing Christ we can begin live only for ourselves. This leads people to jealousy and envy of others as opposed to wanting the best for others.
In families sometimes siblings will become jealous of one another based on what they think might be favoritism being shown to a particular member.
The age old wanting what belongs to someone else has been a plague for all human history. Cain killed Able out of jealousy. Josephs brothers sold him into slavery to get rid of him. The disciples argued over who would be the greatest as they walked along the road with Jesus.
This competition for prestige or prominence has been the ruin of many relationships throughout history. Sin has damaged relationship with God and with others. Only through Christ can we truly engage in healthy relationship again.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
