BUILDING EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS (3)

>>> PROFITTING FROM FRIENDSHIPS/RELATIONSHIPS (B)

TEXT: ACTS 27:31

There are people you must do all you can positively to keep in your life.

“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31)

This implies that there are people whose friendship/relationship you cannot afford to toy with or handle with levity. Not even distance or some misunderstandings should make you break away from this type of friendship.

God makes certain provisions for us on our life’s journey and one of these is the provision of blessed friendship. David and Jonathan; Daniel and his three (3) friends; these are Biblical examples of profiting friendships. Having a blessed friendship is finding one of God’s provisional packages to make your divine destiny happen and make Heaven possible. It is called ‘The Gift of Men’.

THE AURA OF BLESSED FRIENDSHIP

How can you recognize specific gifts of friendship to your life?

(i) Anyone whose presence around you lights up the fire of God and the passion for the things that please God. These are the people whose presence gives you a reason for living. They are there to fuel your purpose and give you a hand to rise up from whatever may have brought you down.

Paul was stoned to the point of death, but when the brethren rose up around him, he arose and lived on (Acts 14:19-20). A blessed friend lights up hope and fuels courage in your spirit.

(ii) Anyone with whom your success and progress is as good as his; he is a blessed friend. And he is there with you even if the world walks out on you.

When king Saul rose up against David, Jonathan was a succour to David. He regarded David’s success as his and not as a threat.

(iii) A blessed friend celebrates your strengths and is committed to helping with strengthening your weaknesses. Among his ways of helping with your weaknesses involves rebuking, scolding, correcting where indicated.

(iv) He is not parasitic – staying with you because of what he derives from you. His friendship is mutual and symbiotic; he is equally a blessing to you as you are to him. He makes commitments and sacrifices to make the friendship work. He values you!

(v) He has eyes for the same destination as you – destiny and Heavenly eternity.

(vi) He is humble; he accepts corrections and is not egoistic. He is quick to make up for any misunderstanding and is not in short supply of apology where he is wrong.

This is a blessed friendship and it is a necessity for a blessed destiny and beautiful eternity.

Prayer:

“Lord, I pray that my life shall attract blessed relationships in Jesus’ name. Amen.”