Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, are full of advice and guidance on how to build and nurture relationships. The Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12, is perhaps the most widely recognized truth when it comes to relationships – to love your neighbor as yourself. The Bible is packed with wisdom on all kinds of relationships, from marriage and family, to friendships and colleagues.
Marriage
The Bible gives clear instructions for marriage as it is meant to be a lifelong commitment. Ephesians 5:22-33 instructs husbands and wives to give each other respect, kindness and encouragement. Marriage is also declared to be a spiritual union and in Matthew 19, Jesus confirms the importance of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Other books like 1 Corinthians, Colossians and 1 Peter offer advice and teaching on what marriage should be.
Family
As the foundation of society, God assigns the family the role of upholding and nurturing values within its members. 1 Timothy 5:4 encourages children to honor their parents and explains that there are rewards for doing so. An important aspect of family is forgiveness, and Ephesians 4:32 instructs parents to forgive one another. Colossians 3:18-21 is an example of practical advice given to families on how to interact with each other.
Friendships
honest and loyal friendships are encouraged by the Bible. Proverbs 17:17 talks about how a true friend loves at all times, including hard times, and how such friends can be hard to find, but that they are worth searching for. Proverbs 18:24 advises friends to support one another, while Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 advises on the strength of true friendship.
Work Relationships
The Bible has many things to say about work relationships and how to succeed in the workplace. Colossians 3:23-25 shows how important it is to have a good attitude and integrity when working with others. Proverbs 22:29 teaches about being courteous with coworkers regardless of their rank or position, and Proverbs 27:17 shows the importance of being good at networking and building relationships with others.
Love
Love according to the Bible is not only associated with marriage, family, and friendship, but also between God and humans. 1 John 4:19 explains that love comes from God and John 15:13 shows how far God will go to love us, even to the point of sacrificing his own Son. We can also extend the same kind of love to those around us, as shown in Matthew 5:44-45.
Compassion
Along with love, compassion is an important virtue that the Bible encourages us to practice. Psalm 45:7 talks about having a compassionate heart and extending mercy to others. The passage explains that true compassion comes from a place of understanding and empathy, and that it is stronger than wrath.
Responsibility
The Bible entreats us to be responsible in our relationships, both with God and with people. Exodus 20:12 emphasizes the importance of honoring our parents, and Proverbs 15:33 reminds us that responsibility comes before pleasure. Galatians 6:2-4 encourages us to help bear each other’s burdens, and we are instructed in 1 Timothy 5:8 to provide for our own families.
Humility
Humility is an essential virtue in our relationships as displayed in Philippians 2:3-4 which instructs us to look out for each other’s best interests and not to seek our own. The same idea is repeated in 1 Peter 5:5-6 where we are encouraged to demonstrate humility in all our relationships, regardless of how high or low the other person is in the hierarchy.
Integrity
Integrity is a key element in healthy relationships. Proverbs 20:7 speaks of how important integrity is and reminds us that we should always tell the truth no matter what. Proverbs 19:1 also encourages us to be wise in our dealings with others by maintaining integrity and being faithful to ourselves and to others.
Accountability
Accountability is a vital part of any relationship, as Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 explains. We are accountable for our actions and must take responsibility for our mistakes, but at the same time, we must also give people the space to be open and honest about the mistakes they have made. This helps relationships to stay healthy and strong, even when there are disagreements or misunderstandings.
Communication
According to the Bible, good communication is essential for healthy relationships. Proverbs 16:24 encourages us to be clear and direct with our words, and to speak truthfully. James 1:19 also encourages us to respond to others with patience and understanding and to avoid making hasty decisions in anger or haste. Finally, Proverbs 12:18 advises us to think before we speak, and not to give in to gossip or slander.
Kindness
Finally, the Bible encourages us to practice the virtue of kindness in all our relationships. Colossians 3:12-13 instructs us to be tender and compassionate towards one another and to extend goodwill to even those who wrong us. In Acts 15, Christians are commanded to do good and to practice kindness to all people, regardless of their faith.
