 May 5, 1999
LIFE & WORK:
Relationships are a gift
to be cherished, nourished
___ John 4:9-14; Phillipians 2:25-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 4:9-10
___By Doug Riggs
___Woodland Heights Baptist Church, Bedford
___Alcatraz was one of the most feared penitentiaries until its close on March 21, 1963. Its isolated location and its philosophy of "punishment, not rehabilitation" made prison life nearly unbearable. Solitary confinement was the worst. A prisoner would be stripped and placed in a dark, stainless steel cell that conducted heat away from his body. Prisoners often rested on their knees and elbows to maintain as little contact with the steel as possible. They were truly alone.
___In the creation event, God saw that everything was good except one thing. Adam was alone (Gen. 2:18). Adam  needed companionship and community. God created each one of us with a need for relationships. To nourish those relationships we must learn how to give loving care to one another (as well as accept care in return). The following Scripture passages give practical direction to that end.
___ Practice hospitality (1 Peter 4:9-10). Peter taught that hospitality was a form of demonstrating God's grace. Hospitality may appear in many forms according to the gifts a person has, but the end result remains service to others. Believers should render such service without complaint. By doing so, we testify to the goodness of God and build a caring community with others.
___ Show kindness (1 Thessalonians 5:15). One of the first verses many of us learned as children taught us to be kind to one another. Amazingly, we often need a refresher course on the basics. Paul contrasted kindness with the desire for revenge, something the believer should avoid at all cost. The desire to get even actually becomes a self-defeating destructive force in our lives. Furthermore, such action destroys the sense of community. Kindness builds up the body while revenge tears it apart.
___ Share the gospel (John 4:9-14). Another way of demonstrating basic care for one another is to share the good news. Jesus crossed social and ethnic boundaries to begin a conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. He approached the need in her life that commanded her attention. She was thirsty, and he offered her living water (v. 10). This caring act opened the door to the gospel. Jesus wanted the woman to experience an internal spring of water (v. 14). Jesus' natural approach to sharing provides a model for all of us as we introduce others to a fulfilling relationship with God.
___ Give of yourself (Philippians 2:25-30). Philippians was a long "thank you" letter for gifts Paul had received from the church. These verses depict mutual giving that went far beyond money. First, the church gave Epaphroditus to help Paul. He was obviously a well-loved person in Philipi (v. 25, 28), and sending him to Paul left a gap in the church. The second example of giving was the service of Epaphroditus himself. He almost died while helping Paul (v. 30). Finally, Paul exhibited selfless giving by sending Epaphroditus back to Philipi. He knew the church would be concerned for their friend until they actually saw him (v. 28). When Christians give unselfishly, God gives blessings back many times over.
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