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Anchor

User-friendly devotionals with audio

  • 3 Apr

    Relations with Others

    Happier Living Series

    Audio length: 13:13
    Download Audio (12.1MB)

    The issue

    Life is all about relationship-building. Throughout life, we enter into relationships with people on many different levels, as sons and daughters, friends, neighbors, parents, co-workers, clients, counselors, and more. For Christians, the starting point for relationship-building is the understanding that every person has been created in the image of God and is worthy of dignity and respect. Our duty and calling is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31) regardless of ethnicity, gender, creed, nationality, or social status.

    When Jesus was asked “Who is my neighbor,” His reply was to tell the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). In this parable, the responses of people to a man in need are compared, and Jesus closes the story by asking, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The response was: “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus then said, “You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:36–37).

    This raises a question for us to consider: How do we see others? Do we view them as the “other” to ignore or pass by? Do we view them critically, making note of seeming defects, failings, or lacks, or do we see the goodness and wonder of God’s creation in people? How we treat people and our ability to share God’s love with them starts with the way we see them.

    If we genuinely care about others, we need to show our concern and appreciation for them. We need to approach people with the understanding that every person has a story and burdens they are carrying and struggles they face.

    Be kind. Every person you meet is fighting a difficult battle.

    The starting point for building relations

    Learning to communicate well with others and build relations starts with our relationship and communication with God.

    In today’s ever-changing and increasingly complex and fast-paced interconnected world, more and more people find themselves caught up in the frenzied rush to become successful or make ends meet financially. They often have little time to ponder seemingly abstract matters such as the meaning of life or the eternal destiny of their own souls.

    But as the years pass, people often find that the pressures of life and trying to meet all their commitments have filled them with stress and anxiety, not peace or satisfac­tion. Their private lives often suffer as a result, as they’re unable to find enough time to spend with family or friends or develop lasting relationships.

    When a personal crisis or tragedy strikes—an unexpected accident or critical illness, a death in the family, a great personal loss of any kind—all the achievements and goods of this world can do little to bring or restore hope. It is during such times that people frequently realize that the true values of life—love, purpose, and eternal desti­ny—are what ultimately matter.

    The Bible tells us that God is a loving Father who loves each human being uniquely. God is not some faraway uninterested being. He is a God who is personal, who has a relationship with His creation. He is interested in each one of us as individuals.

    As Christians, He in turn has called us to reach out to others with His love, to communicate, to build loving relations, and to show that we care about them and that God loves them.—Activated

    Who is our neighbor?

    Our neighbor is anyone in our proximity with whom we can share God’s love. We are called not only to love those who are similar to us or with whom we are comfortable, but all whom God places in our path. In fact, Jesus said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:44–48). God shows love to all people (John 3:16–18; 2 Peter 3:9). As His children (John 1:12), we are called to do the same.—GotQuestions.org1

    Keys to improving relationships

    Do you want to know the key to better relationships in life? You must learn to serve.

    The root of most relational problems is self-centeredness. You must deal with other issues, but the root is almost always self-centeredness. We want what we want, when we want it. Neither person will budge—and that causes conflict.

    That’s why you need to step out of your own perspective and learn to serve others. Serving other people changes you, and it changes your relationships along the way.

    One of God’s greatest lessons he wants you to learn while you’re on this planet is how to be unselfish. It’s a lifelong course of study… You can learn to be unselfish. How? It’s simple, really: You copy Jesus. Jesus says it like this: “Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

    Next time you read about the life of Jesus in the Bible, notice how he dealt with others. Watch how he always put others before himself. When you imitate his attitude, you live your life not for your benefit but for the benefit of others. Jesus consistently showed this throughout the Gospels. …

    The Bible says of serving unselfishly, “If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too” (Romans 14:18).—Rick Warren2

    A list of the most important words for our communications with others

    The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake.”
    The five most important words: “You did a good job” or “I am proud of you!”
    The four most important words: “What is your opinion?”
    The three most important words: “I love you!”
    The two most important words: “Thank you!”
    The most important word: “We”
    The least important word: “I”—Author unknown

    Be generous with praise, cautious with criticism.

    Keys for communicating with others

    Some people are brought up from childhood to believe that it’s a sign of weakness to show your emotions, or to talk too much about your feelings. Consequently, they have never developed the ability to have meaningful conversations with another person or to share openly with someone else.

    Others may be fearful of exposing what they feel or think. They do not want to run the risk of being rejected or hurt if someone else disagrees with them. Some people do not believe that they, as a person, have much to offer or that their ideas are worthwhile. They have a low opinion of themselves, and as a result, they withhold their comments and personal feelings.

    Reservations and fears such as these can hinder our communications with others and prevent us from moving to deeper, more meaningful levels. If you’re interested in reaching people and you love them and want to show them that you care, it’s important to do your part to help them to communicate. “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5).

    One way to do this is to gently probe and invite people to share by asking them questions that show an interest in them and that you care about them. Then listen to what they share and consider how you can show them that you understand and that how they feel and think matters. When it is difficult, remind yourself that as a unique creation of God, each person is invaluable and matters so much to God that He gave His only son for their salvation and reconciliation (John 3:16).

    Oftenit helps people just to talk about the things they’re experiencing, even if there isn’t an obvious solution to the problem or issue. As Christians, we can also offer to pray with people for them and about the issues that concern them. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. ... This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1–4).—Treasures

    Think about it…

    Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationships with people. But all ten are about relationships.—Rick Warren

    If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes—that is to say, like artists—we must see not just their faces but the life behind and within their faces. Here it is love that is the frame we see them in.—Frederick Buechner

    Just remember the world is not a playground but a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday but an education. One eternal lesson for us all: to teach us how better we should love.—Barbara Jordan

    What the Bible says...

    Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.—1 Thessalonians 5:11

    Serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:13–14

    Remind the people … to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.—Titus 3:1–2

    Published on Anchor April 2025. Read by John Laurence.

    1 “Who is my neighbor, biblically speaking?” GotQuestions, https://www.gotquestions.org/who-is-my-neighbor.html

    2 Rick Warren, “The Key to Improving Your Relationships,” PastorRick.com, November 12, 2019, https://pastorrick.com/the-key-to-improving-your-relationships/

  • Mar 31 From One Friend to Another
  • Mar 28 The God of All Comfort
  • Mar 27 The Sermon on the Mount: An Introduction
  • Mar 26 A Question of Loyalty (Acts 3–5)
  • Mar 21 God Knows What You Don’t Have
  • Mar 20 Overcoming Loneliness
  • Mar 17 Love at Work
  • Mar 13 Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
  • Mar 10 The Day of the Lord
   

Directors’ Corner

Faith-building Bible studies and articles

  • 25 Mar

    1 Corinthians: Chapter 9 (verses 18–27)

    This article will cover the second half of 1 Corinthians 9.

    What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:18).

    Many scholars have interpreted this passage as Paul stating that his preaching was a reward in itself, that to preach the gospel free of charge and not make use of his rights for pay was sufficient reward. But in light of the previous verse, where Paul affirmed that if he did so of his own will, he would have a reward, and if not, he was still entrusted with a stewardship (1 Corinthians 9:17), it seems helpful to look at Paul’s words in a different way. The second interpretation of this passage is that Paul knew he would one day receive a reward for having preached without pay. Christ would reward him for not seeking his own benefit.

    For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them (1 Corinthians 9:19).

    Living in the Mediterranean world, Paul was used to engaging with many different cultures. In these varying situations, he committed himself not to exercise his right to pursue the norms of his own cultural preferences, and not to insist on his freedoms under the gospel.

    He started with a strong assertion: I am free from all. By claiming his free status, Paul declared that he did not have to conform himself to the preferences of others. Even so, Paul voluntarily made himself a servant to all. He gave up his rights to his own preferences so that he could serve other people. He did this to win as many as possible, to spread the kingdom of Christ.

    To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law (1 Corinthians 9:20–21).

    To show how far he was willing to follow his policy, Paul described the two different aspects of his multicultural ministry: He ministered to both those under the law (the Jewish people under the Mosaic Law) and to those not having the law—the Gentiles. At that time, the differences between these two groups could be huge. Religious beliefs, moral practices and cultural customs, family practices, legal systems, clothing, holidays, and eating habits were very different between the Jews and Gentiles. This diversity required great flexibility from Paul, which he embraced because he wanted to win people from both groups and bring them to Christ.

    The term “under the law” referred to the Jewish way of life under the Mosaic Law. Paul himself was ethnically Jewish, but he understood that through Jesus’ sacrifice and death on the cross, God had created a new people, His church, where there was no distinction between Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:28). The old covenant had been nullified, and believers were now under what Paul referred to here as the law of Christ. In order to reach Jewish people, Paul was willing to temporarily adopt aspects of the Jewish way of life and customs as needed to be able to share the gospel.

    Paul knew that these practices had been annulled by Jesus’ death on the cross, with God canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14). But Paul cared so much about the Jewish community that he observed their customs and laws when he was with them so that the gospel might take root in them.

    On the other hand, being outside the law meant that the Gentiles were “excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12 NIV). They didn’t have the guidance of Scripture teaching them to worship God, but followed pagan rituals and lifestyles without the restrictions of the Jewish law and customs. While Paul didn’t approve of pagan lifestyles, he observed their customs and laws when he was among them, so that the gospel could be spread among the Gentiles.

    He was flexible as he went from one community to another, but he knew when to draw the line. When he was with religious Jews, he remembered that he was no longer subject to the law (though I myself am not under the law). Likewise, when with Gentiles who did not observe the laws of Scripture, Paul conformed his outward behavior to theirs in many ways, but he did not stray into paganism, as his goal was to bring people to the knowledge of the one true God. While he was free to observe local cultural customs and ways of life, he was bound to keep the law of Christ (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law).

    “Christ’s law” does not stand in opposition to the Mosaic Law. Jesus himself said, “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). When Paul refers to Christ’s law, he is referencing the moral teachings of all the Scriptures as they were taught by Christ and His apostles. Paul often affirmed that God’s law was designed as a guide for Christians (Romans 2:25–29; 1 Timothy 1:8). Yet, here he made it clear that God’s law for Christians is interpreted in the light of Christ’s coming and thus had become Christ’s law.

    To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22).

    Paul added another group of people besides the Jews and Gentiles, one that drew attention to his concern for the Corinthian church—the weak. The strong and knowledgeable people in the Corinthian church refused to make allowances for the people they deemed to be weak among them. The strong contended that they had the freedom to eat meat sacrificed to idols, since idols have no real existence, but in doing so, they sinned against weaker brothers and sisters who were stumbled by this practice (1 Corinthians 8:4–7).

    In contrast, Paul became weak by willingly conforming his behavior to that of the weak. In limiting his freedom, he made certain that he didn’t cause weaker brothers and sisters to fall into sin. The strong and knowledgeable at Corinth understood their rights, but they had forgotten the importance of love for others. Disregarding the weak in the Corinthian church would eventually bring about the judgment of God.

    Paul went on to state that he had become all things to all men. He gave up his rights to pursue his own preferences and submitted to others so that he might bring them to salvation. His main concern was to build the kingdom of Christ through reaching the lost and bringing them to faith and new life in Christ. He didn’t allow his own freedoms to interfere with leading others to follow the way of Christ, whether it was those under the law or those outside the law.

    I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings (1 Corinthians 9:23).

    Paul’s purpose and calling was sharing the good news of salvation through Christ with people. He wanted the kingdom of God to come in full, and he made himself a servant of all in order to reach these goals. Paul knew that God would reward him and he sacrificed his own rights so that he might share in God’s blessings.

    Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:24–25).

    Paul uses an analogy of an athletic race to highlight the seriousness of exercising self-control in order to pursue the goal of bringing as many people as possible to Christ. Due to the Corinthians’ sponsorship and connection with the Isthmian Games, the reference to a race would be a fitting metaphor that the Corinthians could relate to. Paul went on to draw several comparisons between the Christian life and a race, using himself as an example.

    First, not everyone will win the prize, just as not everyone who begins the Christian life endures to the end. Christians must pursue their race single-mindedly and be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14 NIV). They express their faith by striving to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).

    Second, every athlete goes into strict training and learns to exercise self-control in all things to reach their goal and finish their race. Christians are to devote themselves to following Christ, choosing actions that will build up the body of Christ, His people, and promote their spiritual development and self-discipline (Ephesians 4:12).

    Third, unlike athletes who strive to get a ceremonial wreath that will not last, Christians will receive a crown that will last forever (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4). Paul was referring here to eternal rewards such as everlasting life and eternal glory that Christians “who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality” will receive (Romans 2:7; 2 Timothy 2:10).

    So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:26–27).

    Paul drew some moral implications for his life from the analogy. First, he did not live his Christian life like someone running aimlessly. He had a definite goal—winning the prize—and he ran to achieve it.

    Second, Paul commented that he didn’t fight like a man beating the air. Later, in a letter to Timothy, Paul again metaphorically wrote of running and boxing with the purpose of gaining a crown (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Here, he pointed out his care not to miss with his “spiritual punches.”

    Third, he disciplined his body. This is a metaphor showing the rigor of his spiritual life. He conditioned himself spiritually, denying himself as athletes deny themselves for the sake of winning the contest.

    Paul concluded this athletic analogy by restating his goal. He worked hard to make sure that after he had preached to others, he would not be disqualified from the prize. He was not speaking of losing salvation, but he was aware that even he could fall away from Christ. He knew that the prize is received only by those who endure to the end (James 1:12).

    Paul was speaking generally about his entire spiritual life, and his single-minded focus on the goal of reaching the world with the gospel. In order to do so, he exercised self-control like an athlete in every area of his life. But in this chapter Paul also focused on how he gave up his rights and freedoms for the sake of others, and made himself a servant to all, so that he might win more people to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19). Denying oneself in service to others was a sacrifice, but Paul knew that it was necessary. He used himself as an example for the Corinthians to follow. Since he, an apostle, had been willing to make such sacrifices, the Corinthians should be willing to do the same.

    Note
    Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

     

  • Mar 11 1 Corinthians: Chapter 9 (verses 1–17)
  • Feb 25 1 Corinthians: Chapter 8 (verses 1–13)
  • Feb 11 1 Corinthians: Chapter 7 (verses 17–40)
  • Jan 28 1 Corinthians: Chapter 7 (verses 1–16)
  • Jan 8 1 Corinthians: Chapter 6 (verses 1–20)
  • Dec 10 Practicing All the Virtues
  • Nov 26 Virtues for Christ-Followers: Self-control
  • Nov 12 1 Corinthians: Chapter 5 (verses 1–13)
  • Oct 29 Virtues for Christ-Followers: Gentleness
   

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  • The Family International (TFI) is an international online Christian community committed to sharing the message of God’s love with people around the globe. We believe that everyone can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, which affords happiness and peace of mind, as well as the motivation to help others and to share the good news of His love.

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  • The primary goal of the Family International is to improve the quality of life of others by sharing the life-giving message of love, hope, and salvation found in God’s Word. We believe that God's love—applied on a practical level to our daily lives—is the key to resolving many of society's problems, even in the complex and fast-paced world of today. Through imparting the hope and guidance found in the Bible’s teachings, we believe that we can work toward building a better world—changing the world, one heart at a time.

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  • A sense of community

    We believe that our faith is meant to be lived in community and camaraderie with others. We seek to cultivate a spirit of unity, love, and brotherhood. Together we can do more.

About TFI

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