Few Christians disagree that the greatest thing we can do with our lives is to praise and worship God.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
God’s original intent was for us to live and rule with Him on the earth. But our rebelliousness in the form of committing one act of sin caused that authority to be removed from man and given to Satan.
Our relationships with each other are so all-encompassing that they permeate our whole society. Humans are also the most socially developed beings on this planet. Our relationships are dynamic and complex. We have elaborate ceremonies that cost lots of money to celebrate our relationships, both when new ones form and when old ones are no longer there. We spend countless hours every year feasting and bonding over special holidays. If we look at how many traditional social gatherings we humans have—from Ramadan and Diwali to Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Passover—one could be forgiven for thinking to oneself, “These humans sure are looking for any chance they can get to spend time with each other, aren’t they?”
We will do anything and everything to find an excuse to bond with our loved ones and, frequently, have a good meal to go with it. It certainly isn’t an accident that one of the defining sacraments in Christianity happens to be a meal. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He gave us the Lord’s Supper. Humans suffer without healthy relationships. I don’t think there is a human who has ever lived who has not experienced all the nastiness of an unhealthy relationship. Whether it is a work, social, or romantic relationship, we have all borne the brunt of the unhealthy ways that humans relate to each other.
We tend to suffer, especially when we have no relationships at all. Being isolated from our community can have disastrous effects, the least of which we experienced in the seemingly insurmountable mental health crisis that was well underway as the world was locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
We are relational beings because we are created in the image of a relational God. So if we cannot even survive very long without healthy relationships with each other, how much more are we to suffer without a healthy relationship with the God who created us?
There are plenty of unhealthy ways to relate to one another. Our relationship with God is no different. In the next few weeks, I will share what I have learned about the four major unhealthy ways of relating to God and finish by sharing what I believe is the healthiest way to relate to God. Join me on this journey to find a tangible and life-giving relationship with God.
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