Principles For Healthy Relationships With Others Series

Consider the following principles for developing a healthy relationship with others.

I. LOVE EVERYONE

A. "A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:39, NLT)

B. "“But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." (Luke 6:27-28, NLT)

C. "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”" (John 13:35, NLT)

II. FORGIVE ALWAYS.

A. "“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you." (Matthew 6:14, NLT)

B. "leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail." (Matthew 5:24-25, NLT)

C. "Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!" (Matthew 18:21-22, NLT)

III. GIVE WILLINGLY.

A. "Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow." (Matthew 5:42, NLT)

B. "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”" (Luke 6:38, NLT)

IV. SHOW KINDNESS.

A. "“Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12, NLT)

B. "And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck." (Matthew 18:5-6, NLT)

V. SERVE OFTEN.

A. "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." (Matthew 5:41, NKJV)

B. "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”" (Matthew 20:27-28, NKJV)

VIII. CONCLUSION

A. Developing healthy relationships with others is a requirement of Christ, and it is imperative to our testimony. In our opening text, we are instructed to live peaceably with all men, as much as possible. We can accomplish this task by appropriating these principles of Christ in our life.