Growing Righteous Relationships
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
OBSERVATION
Three major tips by James; Listen fast, wait to talk, and don’t let your anger build without restraint. All these things are important to our spiritual growth in relationships because in our human-style anger does not produce righteousness. God wants us to pursue righteousness with everything we’ve got because righteousness is what produces healthy and whole relationships.
APPLICATION
James, the brother of Jesus, writes one of the hardest books in the new testament to read. It calls me out on my stuff every. single. time. I read it. This passage is really important because it gives three principles that will build relationships, understanding, peace, and closeness when we use them effectively. Let’s break them down. Being quick to listen means we don’t respond right away with how we’re feeling or thinking so we can really hear the other person’s side. (even if it offends us) Being slow to speak, means we don’t just say what we’re thinking… we consider the words, how it will impact the person we’re speaking to and consider if it’s even necessary to speak. Being slow to anger means allowing the small stuff to be small and managing emotions so eruptions don’t happen. This means being willing to have conversation about things that bother you BEFORE they build up. It also means taking care of yourself so you are able to care for others. All three of these practices produce healthy strong relationships that grow with understanding in a righteous way. If you have a relationship that seems to always be on the rocks or even if you have a relationship you want to keep working on, consider applying these principles.
PrayER
Father, Help me to consider others in relationships. Remind me to listen before speaking, to consider my words before I say them, and to manage my emotions in a healthy way. God, give me strength to slow down in my relationships and help me to run after righteousness. Thank you for walking with me in this process as I continue to pursue better relationships with the people around me.
Family
Arguing
Comparison Part 2
Jealousy
Love Thy Neighbor
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your should and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31 OBSERVATION God instructs his people...