We live in a culture that values convenience. Just yesterday, my wife and I went to our local grocery store and were met with a rack of self-scanners when we walked in. We were then able to walk about the store, scan the items we desired to purchase, and bag them ourselves while still shopping. When we were done shopping, we simply scanned the self-check-out kiosk, paid, and walked out. Talk about convenient \u2013 my introverted self did not even need to interact with another human being!<\/p>\n
At Faith Church West we recognize that\u00a0Relationships Aren\u2019t Efficient <\/em><\/strong>(Core Value #3). <\/strong>As one who enjoys his alone time, I understand this concept very well. On top of that, efficiency and convenience are my love languages (those are in Gary Chapman\u2019s book, right?) \u2013 I\u2019m always searching for a better way to do something. But relationships have a tendency to side-step efficiency and bring about thoughts like, \u201cyou are not responding the way I planned for you to respond\u201d or any other number of expectation-crushing thoughts that enter my head when interacting with others.<\/p>\n In Mark 9:19, Jesus is quoted saying, \u201cO unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?\u201d Jesus was not afraid to vocalize the strains of relationship.<\/strong> Whenever sin is present, there will be inefficiency, strain, and frustration. In this example, there was One who was sinless \u2013 so imagine when two<\/em> or more <\/em>sinners get together!<\/p>\n Yet Jesus did not sit in that frustration long; the next thing He said was \u201cBring him to Me!\u201d \u2013 referring to a possessed child. The inconvenience that comes with relationships drove Christ towards action<\/em>, not away from the situation.<\/strong> Jesus often speaks truth into a situation and then does something about it.<\/p>\n A lot is said of time \u2013 it\u2019s something we cannot lose or get more of, time is money, it\u2019s the most precious resource, etc. One thing is for sure: everything is vying for our time. Relationships are not exempt from this rule.<\/p>\n Building off Faith Church West\u2019s second Core Value , \u201cNo One Alone,\u201d we are called to live in community. Doing so requires pouring time into intentional relationships with one another. \u201cIntentional\u201d is a significant word in that previous sentence; in a world that is vying for our time, we must be very deliberate with setting time aside for relationship.<\/strong> If you have not discovered this already, you will soon find that implementing this will be inefficient<\/em>.<\/p>\n Bluntly put, relationships seem inefficient most often because of our own selfishness. This past spring, I was on my way with a group of students to go white water rafting in Tennessee. One of the guides said, \u201cIf you fall in the river, do your best to swim to one of us \u2013 self-rescues are the most efficient, because no one loves you<\/em> more than you<\/em> love you<\/em>.\u201d I didn\u2019t realize before that moment that I was in the presence of a theologian.<\/p>\n In all seriousness, we do love ourselves a great deal and much of what we do throughout the day either serves our desire for comfort or just plain self. Jesus exploits this in Mark 12:31 when He describes the second greatest commandment, \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d I hope that, every time you read this, you have a mini \u201couch\u201d moment as Jesus calls us out for our immense selfishness (no, this passage is not an excuse to love yourself more).<\/p>\n Christ is calling us into relationship with one another.<\/strong> Would your time show that you love others as much as you love yourself? If not, the first items that need placed on the sacrificial altar are comfort and self (Romans 12:1).<\/p>\n Now that you have been inundated with the costs of relationships, let\u2019s talk a moment about the benefits. We find a great deal of \u201cone another\u2019s\u201d in Scripture \u2013 if you are looking for a topical study, tracing instances of \u201cone another\u201d in the New Testament provides a great deal of relationship warnings, challenges, and benefits.<\/p>\n We find two of those \u201cone another\u2019s\u201d in Hebrews 10:24-25 \u2013 \u201cand let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.\u201d<\/p>\nBiblical Concept?<\/h2>\n
Relationships Will Require Time<\/h2>\n
Relationships Will Sacrifice Comfort and Self<\/h2>\n
Relationships Are Worth It<\/h2>\n