This final post has been the hardest in the series to write. I am by no means an expert on this topic and am still learning what it looks like to steward good relationships. So I didn’t want it to seem like I had this area all figured out. But I still wanted to write it because I know this is something God desires us to steward and steward well!
We have family, friends, work colleagues, church family, and others we come into contact with on a daily basis. Stewarding each of these relationships is important to God.
People are SO important to God. He sent his only son to be crucified, to bear the full weight of sin, the full wrath of God, fully separated from him for three days. A huge price for his son to pay because of his love for people! If people are that important to God they need to become important to us.
“Don’t just pretend to love others, Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
We are called to truly love others. It doesn’t say in this passage that the task is easy but it does command the task. Being genuine towards others, truly loving them and always being there to help are traits that can be built and developed over time.
So How Can We Steward Our Relationships
1. Take time for others
Until you take the time to spend with people you will never truly get to know them or develop a good relationship with them.
How you use your time shows what is important in your life. Are the people you are surrounded by important in your life?
Last week I talked about time management. We are busier now more than ever before, but we must make the time for each other.
If you read last weeks post you may remember I had a scheduled date night for friends/family. This has become the practical application my husband and I decided to start at the beginning of the year.
We were never intentional about spending time with the people in our lives, and life just seemed too busy to do so. So we knew something had to change. We came up with the idea of Friday evenings being set aside for family/friend time.
We love to host and have people for meals so this seemed like the perfect thing to do. And I can say it has been such a fun way of making time for the ones we love!
Try setting aside time during your week/weekend to intentionally spend time with your family and friends.
2. Become others focused
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:3-4
Often when you become intentional about being less focused on things and stress happening in your own life you automatically are able to look to others around you and have empathy and care about what they are walking through.
How do you feel when others truly care about what you care about? I know it makes me feel loved and understood.
So what does this look like?
Asking questions about their interests, hobbies, or talents
Listening more then speaking
Keeping up to date with all the major life events happening in their lives
Walking through the hard times with them
Serving them
3. Serve others
We are called to serve one another. The definition of a servant is a devoted and helpful follower or supporter.
Serving can look like cooking your family dinner, changing diapers, being available when needed, sharing your talents, paying for someone’s food, mowing your neighbors lawn, supporting a friends dream by encouraging them, complimenting someone, and the list goes on!
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matthew 7:12
Jesus modeled perfect servanthood when he washed the disciples feet. The act of washing feet was done before meals by servants of the home. It was the lowliest task and Jesus, the Ultimate King, stooped down to perform this lowly task for his disciples.
No act of service is to lowly for us to perform for others. How can you model true servanthood to those around you today?
4. Surround yourself with people that build you up
I’m not saying here that you shouldn’t love others who aren’t nice to you, or get under your skin, or tear you down, because we are all called to that kind of love, but who you associate with and who you take time for and surround yourself with will ultimately influence you and your life.
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
Be careful who you are allowing to influence your life because ultimately they are helping shape part of the person you are becoming.
5. Love like Jesus did
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”” Galatians 5:13-14
How much do you love yourself? Many of us don’t love ourselves enough to be able to extend the kind of love that is being talked about there.
First you must learn to love yourself as God loves you and see yourself as God sees you. Then out of a true understanding of that can you fully love others as you fully and completely love yourself.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35
All of the things we’ve talked about so far demonstrate love.
Taking time for others
Becoming others focused
Serving others
Surrounding yourself with people that build you up
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
The realities of heaven are that people are the only things on this earth that will last until eternity. Nothing else matters in the grand scheme of things and nothing else will go with us to eternity!
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