I Samuel 19:9-10
Relationship…the very word means connection by blood or marriage; connections among persons. Sometimes those connections are a blessing, sometimes there is real turmoil. If the truth were known, we all have experienced problems in our relationships. It might be problems in our marriage, problems with people at work, problems at school or problems with a relative.
If you think your family has problems, consider the marriage mayhem created when 76-year-old Bill Baker of London recently wed Edna Harvey. She happened to be his granddaughter’s husband’s mother. That’s where the confusion began, according to Baker’s granddaughter, Lynn.
“My mother-in-law is now my step-grandmother. My grandfather is now my stepfather-in-law. My mom is my sister-in-law and my brother is my nephew. But even crazier is that I’m now married to my uncle and my own children are my cousins.” Now that’s a tough relationship!
The Carnegie Institute has stated that 90% of all people who fail in their life’s vocation fail because they cannot get along with other people.
What do you do when relationships go bad? Better yet, what do you do to prevent relationships from going bad? I believe the Word of God gives us the answers…
In our text, David was innocent! He did nothing to attack Saul, he did nothing to provoke Saul, yet Saul is coming at him with a vengeance! He is ready to silence this “enemy”. He will attack him not just with words but with force…at least two times a javelin will be hurled in David’s direction with intent to kill.
We all have people who we used to be close to…but because of one reason or another that relationship has gone bad…it is sour…it is not appealing anymore. In fact, when their name comes up it brings bad memories to our mind.
What is the right response to wrong relationships? What bridle should we use to create the proper outcome? Here it is in a simple format.
Respond Scripturally; Respond Speedily; Respond Sensibly; Respond Submissively and Respond Skillfully.
I encourage you to study those points and find the biblical truth embedded in each one… God didn’t create us so that we would fight and bicker and not speak to one another…in fact in the Garden, God Himself enjoyed talking with Adam and Eve. God wants us to communicate, to get along; but every now and then, the old flesh will step in and relationships will be hurt.
The question is…How will you respond when relationships go bad?