Hackernoon #3 Relationships

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The urban dictionary classifies a hacker as: as someone who strictly pursues creature comforts through completely legal means that while frustrating to others; allow him to live his best life.

We are all hackers looking for shortcuts or ways to do things which are less stressful and more comfortable.

Did you know non whitening toothpaste can be used as wall filler? Did you know you could use it to also clean the dingy and fading headlight covers on your car? Its true. However, it makes you wonder about the story behind how someone figured this out. I'm not sure someone woke up and said "hey, i feel like filling the walls with toothpaste." let's try this. There is always a story.

Life is hard enough so finding the fastest way to, or through, the obstacles of life seems like an appropriate subject in this covid reality we have found ourselves in.

So over the next 4 weeks, we will be sharing simple shortcuts to help you live your best life. Over the next few weeks, we will offer financial, relationship, parenting, purpose, work and even a simple shortcut to God.

(map of today)

Today, we will look for our relationships shortcut in the New Testament letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. Specifically, we will be reviewing a 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5:21-29

(overview 1 Cor)

First Corinthians addresses many practical questions dividing the church-questions concerning such things as spiritual gifts, marriage, food offered to idols, and the resurrection. Paul urged the Corinthians to be unified and to give themselves fully to "the work of the Lord" (15:58). Chapter 13 includes a well-known passage on the nature and importance of love. Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus about a.d. 55. (ESV commentary)

(overview of Eph)

The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19) to display the scope of God's eternal plan for all humanity-for Jews and Gentiles alike. This is the mystery of God, hidden for ages but now made known in Jesus Christ. The first three chapters focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God's grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation "by grace... through faith" (2:8). The last three chapters explain the implications of God's grace for the church, for individuals, and for families. This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against the devil. Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about a.d. 60. (ESV commentary)

In both books, Paul is challenging the church to choose to offer grace and peace to others as a reflection of what it means to call oneself a Christian. So let’s start with one of the favorite wedding scriptures of all time 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. IL. Love is a magnet. Needle rubbed against a magnet. If we rub up against God and His Word we will take on His kind of love (agape). When we become magnetized with this kind of love we will naturally attract the right relationships. One way is to become magnetized is to know Gods definition of what love is. To start with a strong foundation.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails….”

Authentic relationships require love. Now, let’s be honest, love in the english language has been overused, misused and often misunderstood. The love of sport is not the same as love for a child. The love of a taco isn’t the same as love for a spouse. The love of reading isn’t the same as love of God. It can’t be. Language has failed us. However, all of these examples of love make it clear: Love is a choice. You choose who you love. Love is a choice. I am sure there are some listening today who disagree with me. So let me bring you to how we came to this conclusion:

You were created in the image of God. As a reflection of Him, you carry Christ’s DNA. A makeup which gives you the choice to be like him who chose to love you so much, he would love you even while you were an enemy of He died for you.

Romans 5:6-8 makes this clear.