Our Lord and heavenly Father has seen fit in his infinite wisdom and counsel to bless us with relationships. This is born out of the perfect fellowship and communion that he enjoys in his triune self. We have so many and varied relationships in our lives that serve to test and strengthen our faith and grow our covenant bonds with one another. We have our relationships in our families with our parents and siblings. We have our relationships with friends. We have our relationships with those in authority over us in school, church, and work. And we have our relationships with our neighbors, those outside the church.
In Proverbs 1:8–9 we read of the relationship between parent and child “My son, hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”
Throughout 1 Samuel we read of the beautiful friendship between David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18:1 reads, “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” What a close friendship!
In Romans13:1–2 we read of our relationship with those in authority: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
In 2 Corinthians 6 we read of our relationship with those of this world. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness…”
Friendships & Dating
- We know the influences our friends and those we date have on us. We must be wise and thoughtful when choosing our friends and those whom we date. What are some characteristics of a Godly friend and of those who we should date?
- What are some ways the devil can tempt us in our friendships and in our dating?
- What are things that we can do to glorify God in our friendships and in our dating?
Authority
- As Christian young people, what is our calling with respect to those in authority? How does Satan tempt us to sin against this calling?
- How does God bless you through your parents? How does the devil tempt us in our relationships with our parents in the home?
- In light of the sin and wickedness that abounds in our government, how do we heed the call to respect those in authority? When our own president makes decisions that go against our Reformed beliefs, how do we pray for our leaders, as we are called to?
Our Neighbors of the World
- What is God’s calling to us in regard to our worldly neighbor?
- What is the devil’s relationship to our unbelieving neighbor?
- How might the devil attack us and negatively affect our relationship with God and the church through our unbelieving neighbor?