The Benefits of Loving Others

The Benefits of Loving Others

By Apostle Felix

24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 
Proverbs 18: 2

Love is an attracting force that pulls the object of love to an individual. We normally attract the focus of our lives. When you buy a new dress and like it so much, then you will become aware of anyone wearing the same dress in your vicinity. Before you bought the dress, you were not bothered by anyone wearing it. So it is with our relationships. Relationships flourish and succeed when attention is given to them. An investment must be made in a relationship to benefit from it.

7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

Galatians 6: 7 – 10

Life in general is about sowing and reaping. We reap what we have sown. We cannot expect to harvest joy when we have been sowing malice. We will certainly reap a harvest of hostility. God is a good God, but He has established laws in the earth that control time and seasons. If you are sowing malice in a relationship, a season is coming for a harvest of hostility. We should not ignore these laws of life. King Solomon said that if one needs friends should show oneself friendly, meaning the individual should sow seeds of friendliness.

Seeds of Friendliness

1. Servanthood

Friendship hinges on servanthood. No one wants to befriend a boss who will be ordering others around. Bossy characters have fewer friends because of the bossy trait that keeps others away. Desire to serve others more than people should serve you.

2. Desire to Understand than To Be understood

Friendship is all about giving to others. Giving understanding as well. If you want to be understood all the time, you will not keep friendships. Man is self-centred; therefore, determine to be other-centred. The grounds for arguments are the desire to be understood. Lower the guard and be willing to understand others first. Know your friends well.

3. Value Godly Values Than Approval

Do not be addicted to the approval of men. In any relationship, establish values that should be adhered to at all costs. You will earn respect with time by keeping and staying true to your godly values. A man who discards his values for keeping friendships cannot be trusted. Do not compromise your values, and friends will respect and appreciate you for that.

To be continued…