Created Us for Relationships with God and Others
Lesson 1: God Created Us for Relationships In our fast-paced, achievement-driven world, it's easy to forget that life is all about relationships. But when we look at the Scriptures, the truth becomes clear: God created us for relationships, first with Him, and then with one another. Relational wisdom (RW) helps us understand how to navigate these relationships with wisdom, love, and grace. Key Scripture “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.”— Matthew 22:37-39 In this foundational passage, Jesus teaches us that the greatest commandments center around relationships: loving God and loving others. This is at the heart of relational wisdom. We are called to reflect God’s relational nature in the way we live, love, and connect with those around us. Furthermore, remember how God created us in order for relationships to be central in our lives. What is Relational Wisdom? At its core, relational wisdom is the ability to understand and manage our relationships in a way that honors God and blesses others. RW360 defines it as discerning emotions, interests, and abilities in ourselves and others, interpreting this information through the lens of God's Word, and using these insights to foster constructive relationships. In other words, relational wisdom helps us live out the two greatest commandments: to love God and love others. But this isn't always easy. It requires us to continually grow in self-awareness, other-awareness, and God-awareness, knowing God created us so that relationships would be an essential part of our experience. Why Pursue Relational Wisdom? We pursue relational wisdom because life itself is built on relationships. From the moment we wake up, our interactions with God, family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers are opportunities to grow and glorify God. Developing relational wisdom brings several key benefits: As a reminder, God created us for relationships so these benefits matter deeply. - Stronger Relationships: RW teaches us to love, enjoy, and experience God more fully. It also helps us nurture more enjoyable, productive, and enduring relationships with others. - Compelling Witness: Our lives become living testimonies of God’s love and wisdom. As we grow in RW, the changes in our character and relationships will reflect the power of the Gospel. - Valued Influence: When we consistently demonstrate relational wisdom, people will begin to trust our insights and seek our counsel. Our example and advice become more credible and impactful. The SOG Plan: Practical Steps for Relational Wisdom One practical tool we use in relational wisdom is the SOG Plan. This acrostic stands for: - Self-Aware: How am I feeling and acting? - Other-Aware: How are others feeling, and how am I impacting them? - God-Aware: Where is God leading me in this situation? By consciously practicing these steps, we grow in our ability to respond wisely in every interaction. The SOG Plan is a powerful way to align our emotions, thoughts, and actions with God’s will and to build stronger, healthier relationships. Clearly, these practices help us live out the reality that God specifically created us for relationships. Bringing It Home Relational wisdom is a lifelong journey, but the rewards are profound. As we become more self-aware, other-aware, and God-aware, we reflect Christ’s love and wisdom to a world in need. Let us remember that God created us for relationships, and in them, we have the opportunity to glorify Him and experience His love in deeper ways. Call to Action: Want to dive deeper into relational wisdom? Join our Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr. coaching program and explore practical, Christ-centered tools for transforming your relationships. Visit JamesLongJr.org to learn more. Read the full article