Cultivating and maintaining Godly relationships (final part)

 It is important to under­stand that Christlike love is not self-centred. We live in a culture that promotes a “what’s in it for me” mindset in relationships. But god­ly relationships reflect in a different attitude. Instead of asking, “What can I get out of this relationship?” we should ask, “How can I serve, uplift, and encourage this person?”

Whether in marriage, friendships, or even work relationships, cultivating love means sacrificing our own needs for the sake of others. Christlike love is the glue that holds godly relationships together.

Ask yourself. Am I loving those around me in the way Christ loves me? Am I willing to forgive, serve, and sacrifice for others in our relationships?

If we are truly followers of Christ, love must be at the centre of how we relate to everyone.

2. Godly Relationships Are Built on Trust and Integrity

The second point is that Godly relationships are built on Trust and Integrity. Trust is the bedrock of any healthy relationship, and integrity ensures that this trust is not broken. Without trust, rela­tionships become strained, and eventually, they fall apart.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” Trust is earned through honesty, faithfulness, and a commitment to doing what is right. In godly rela­tionships, we are called to be people of our word, to be reli­able, and to act with integrity at all times.

Integrity in a relationship means that we are consistent in our character—we are the same in private as we are in public. It means we are not deceitful, manipulative, or hypocritical. Instead, we are transparent and honest. This applies to all forms of relationships, whether in marriage, friendships, or even professional relationships.

Building trust requires time and intentionality. Do our actions align with our words? Can people depend on us? If we are to maintain godly relationships, we must commit to being trust­worthy and people of integrity.

3. Godly Relationships Re­quire Forgiveness and Grace

No relationship is per­fect because people are not perfect. Conflict, misunder­standings, and offenses are inevitable. But godly relation­ships are maintained through a posture of Forgiveness and Grace.

Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to “Be kind and compassion­ate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

One of the most challenging aspects of maintaining godly relationships is the ability to forgive those who hurt us, intentionally or unintention­ally. Holding onto bitterness or grudges only destroys relationships and erodes our peace.

When we forgive, we imi­tate Christ, who forgave us of our sins even when we were un­deserving. Forgiveness is not about denying that we were wronged, but it is a con­scious decision to release the offense and allow God to heal our hearts.

Moreover, grace is essential. Grace means giving others room to make mistakes, to grow, and to change. We are all on a journey of becoming more like Christ, and grace allows us to see others as God sees them—worthy of love, compassion, and patience.

To be continued!

Stay blessed!

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• By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author