Relationships Matter the Most in Life

Journal-Review
August 28, 2009

If you are looking for a good read, may I suggest the Book of Philippians. Nestled in the New Testament, this book tells us the most about the Apostle Paul. It’s a personal letter. It is also a practical letter. It deals with a lot of the problems in life that we all face, a lot of examples of day-to-day decisions. Most of all, Philippians is a positive book.

The words “joy” or “rejoice” or “be glad” are used 17 different times in this book. In a world where we read about 11-year-old children being held captive for 18 years, what we find in this book is some advice on the most important aspect of life – relationships.

Right off the bat, in chapter 1, the Apostle Paul writes to us about people. If relationships are bad then life stinks. If relationships are strained life is difficult. If you have problems with people it kills the joy in your life.

One of the most shocking quotes I read about the case of Jaycee Lee Dugard, who at age 11 was abducted near her home, came from a neighbor. The girl was hidden for nearly two decades in the back yard of her abductor; hidden from view by a series of fences, sheds and tents.

According to the Associated Press, a neighbor in Placerville, California, said she could see the tents and often heard children playing in the backyard, the corner of which was near her own backyard. She said she even suspected the children lived in the tents, but her husband said she should leave the family alone.

What would have happened if the neighbor called child protection services, or asked a police officer to come over and observe the tents? How many years of misery would have Jaycee avoided?

Of course, we will never know. All of this is a reminder of how precious relationships – even among neighbors – are so vitally important. How do we develop solid relationships?

Philippians gives us the answer. One way – something every person reading this column can do – is to pray. “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” This letter to the church leaders at Philippi, began with Paul’s promise to pray.

How would you like to have the Apostle Paul praying for you? Would that encourage you? How do you feel when you know people are praying for you when they are remembering you?

When I was in high school, I received the book “The Power of Positive Praying.” It was the first Christian book I read. Positive praying is much more powerful than positive thinking. There is something supernatural about the power of prayer.

I have seen this first hand in the life of First United Methodist Church of Crawfordsville. The quickest way to make a positive difference in a relationship is to pray for that person.

While people can often resist our words; they can resist our kindnesses; and they can even avoid us completely – but they are defenseless against our prayers. Those bumper stickers are telling the truth when it says “Prayer Changes Things.”

There is another encouragement found in this great little book. Paul did not write this book secured on a seashore retreat center. He wrote this book while in prison for his faith. “I am in chains for Christ,” he writes in verse 13. Yet, there is no bitterness in this book. There is not one hint of discouragement.

We don’t have to be imprisoned to be discouraged. Using Paul’s example, we can focus on our relationship with others.

Here’s the vision Paul painted to the Philippians: “And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” (verses 9-11)

What is so great about this letter is this vision can be ours. We can be a people where “love may abound” which means to overflow, like a tidal wave. We can be a people who can “discern what is best,” by picking up the phone when we suspect foul play and do the right thing so that we can be “pure and blameless.”

This is all made possible by Jesus Christ. It is within us to reach out for God’s love and guidance. This is my prayer for Montgomery County.