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Relationships

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

            Several years ago I heard a national leader say, “If you want to see your child’s future look at your child’s friends.”  Your connections can help determine your destiny.  You become like the people who are the greatest influences in your life. 

            There are two types of relationships.  The first is seasonal relationships.  These are only for a season.  God works and moves in seasons.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”  We learn in Acts 1:7, “And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

            In our study of Scripture we learn some important lessons about the seasons.  Seasons change.  The Apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Between every new level and each season there is a time of transition.  To stay in a past season can become detrimental.

            The second type of relationship are lifelong relationships.  These are friends who are in covenant relationship with you and continue throughout your lifetime. If you have more than one lifelong friendship you are blessed.  There will be many seasonal relationships, but very few lifelong covenant relationships.

The Bible defines a true friend in Proverbs 18:24 as “a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  What are the characteristics of a true friend?  They will believe in your dreams and aspirations They will celebrate your victories instead of being jealous of your success. They will mourn your losses without saying, “I told you so.” They love you for who you are and not what they can get or take from you.


Relationships should be mutually beneficial.  A true friend will encourage you to fulfill your destiny and become everything God desires for you to become.  We must be careful who we connect to, and who we allow to speak into our lives. We must be connected to relationships that are born of the Holy Spirit. 

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