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Fruitful Living

 Cultivating and maintaining Godly relationships (Part 1)

As christains let’s continue to love one another
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”– John 13:34-35 (NIV)

 FROM the very beginning, God designed us not to walk through life alone, but to be connected—first to Him, and then to one another. Relationships are the frame­work of our existence, and the quality of these relationships directly impacts our spiritual, emotional, and even physical wellbeing. But in a world that often distorts the meaning of true connection, we face a challenge: How do we build and maintain relationships that reflect God’s heart?

Today, we will explore the concept of Godly relation­ships—what they are, why they matter, and how we can cultivate and sustain them in every area of our lives. Whether in friendships, family ties, professional circles, or mentorships, our relation­ships are meant to be living testimonies of God’s love and grace. As followers of Christ, we are called to live in a way that sets us apart, and one of the clearest ways we can do that is through how we relate to others. Jesus Himself said that it is by our love for one another that the world will know we are His disciples (John 13:35).

WHAT GODLY RELATION­SHIPS MEAN

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Godly relationships go beyond surface connections; they are rooted in;

•love,

•service,

•forgiveness,

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•and the desire to see oth­ers grow in their relationship with God.

Relationships, in all their forms, are central to the human experience. Whether within the family, friendships, work relationships, or ro­mantic partnerships, how we connect with others reveals much about who we are and what we value.

For believers in Christ, rela­tionships are not merely social contracts or exchanges of convenience; they are divine assignments—opportu­nities to manifest God’s love and character to a world in desperate need of true connection.

Godly relationships are built on;

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•Love,

•Trust,

•Integrity,

•and Purpose.

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They reflect God’s nature and bring healing, encour­agement, and accountabil­ity. More importantly, they demonstrate to the world the essence of God’s kingdom, where love, humility, and ser­vice to others are paramount. Cultivating and maintaining such relationships is a lifelong endeavour that requires wis­dom, patience, and reliance on God’s grace.

The Foundation of Godly Relationships

I want us to dive into sever­al key points that will help us understand what godly rela­tionships look like and how we can nurture them.

1. Godly Relationships Are Founded on Christlike Love

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The first and most important point is that Godly relation­ships are rooted in Christlike love. This is the foundation upon which all other aspects of a relationship are built. When we talk about Christlike love, we refer to the sacrifi­cial, selfless love that Jesus demonstrated. It’s a love that goes beyond emotions and convenience—it is a commit­ment to care for others even when it’s difficult.

Jesus said in John 13:34- 35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Christlike love is our testimony to the world. People don’t just see our faith by what we say, but by how we love.

This love is patient, kind, forgiving, and always seeks the good of the other person, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13.

  • By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
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Fruitful Living

Cultivating, multivating, maintaining Godly Relationship (Part 2)

Friendships

Friendship is one of the most common forms of relationships, yet it is often undervalued in its potential for spiritual growth and support. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” A godly friendship is one that transcends conve­nience or superficial interests. It is a bond rooted in mutual respect, encouragement, and accountability.

Jesus modelled godly friend­ship with His disciples, partic­ularly with Peter, James, and John, who formed His inner circle. He shared His heart with them, corrected them when necessary, and entrusted them with His mission.

A godly friendship is one where both individuals push each other closer to God. There is no room for gossip, jealousy, or competition, but rather a mutual commitment to growth, honesty, and support.

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Family Relationships

God places us in families, not by accident, but with purpose. The family is one of the primary places where we are called to live out the principles of godly relationships.

The Bible instructs us in Ephesians 6:1-4 on the impor­tance of honouring our parents and raising our children in the fear of the Lord. In Colossians 3:19, husbands and wives are called to love and respect one another, mirroring the relation­ship between Christ and His church.

Maintaining godly family relationships requires intention­al effort. It’s easy to take our family members for granted, but God calls us to love them deeply, forgive often, and serve each other in humility. The challenges within family life—differences in personality, conflicts, or even misunder­standings—become opportuni­ties to demonstrate patience, forgiveness, and grace.

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Professional Relationships

One of the most overlooked areas where godly relationships can be cultivated is in our pro­fessional lives.

Too often, we compart­mentalise our faith, failing to realize that our interactions in the workplace are opportunities to show Christ to oth­ers. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as work­ing for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Whether we are em­ployers or employees, we are called to treat those we work with fairly, with integrity and respect.

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This means valuing others not just for what they can contrib­ute to the company, but for who they are as people made in the image of God.

In our professional relationships, we are ambassadors for Christ, and how we conduct ourselves speaks volumes about the faith we profess. These relationships, if culti­vated with the right motives, can lead to opportunities for mentorship, witnessing, and personal growth.

Mentorship

Mentorship is another critical aspect of godly relationships. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of mentoring relation­ships: Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, and most significantly, Jesus and His disciples.

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Godly mentorship goes beyond simply giving advice or sharing knowledge; it is about investing in the spiritual and personal development of anoth­er person.

A mentor is called to guide, correct, and encourage their mentee, helping them navigate the chal­lenges of life and faith. Mentor­ship is a two-way relationship, where both mentor and mentee grow together in Christ.

Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 is instructive: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be quali­fied to teach others.”

In other words, godly mentor­ship is not just about the indi­vidual relationship, but about equipping others to carry on the work of the Kingdom.

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To be continued…

  • By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
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Fruitful Living

‘Allahu As-Samad’

• Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
• Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

 Introduction to the Con­cept of As-Samad

Servants of Allah, one of Allah’s most profound names, As-Samad, is mentioned in Surah Al-Ikhlas, where Allah describes His oneness and perfection:

“Say, ‘He is Allah, [Who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge (As-Samad). He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.’” (Qur’an 112:1-4).

The name As-Samad en­compasses the idea of Allah’s absolute independence and self-sufficiency. Ibn Abbas (RA) explained that As-Samad refers to the one to whom all creation turns in times of need, while He Himself is free from any need (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

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Allah requires no suste­nance, no assistance, and no support in carrying out His plans. Yet all creation—human beings, animals, plants, and even angels—rely entirely on Him for their existence, suste­nance, and success.

Allah’s Independence Demonstrated in Creation

Allah’s independence is evident in the perfection of His creation. He brought the universe into existence with unparalleled mastery. Allah states:

“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He manages every affair…” (Qur’an 10:3).

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The heavens, the earth, the mountains, the seas, and every living creature were created without the assis­tance of anyone. Even the most intricate systems—such as the orbiting of planets, the growth of plants, and the functioning of the human body—operate under Allah’s command.

This is further emphasised in another verse:

“To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatev­er is in the earth. And Allah is free of need, the Praisewor­thy.” (Qur’an 31:26).

Evidence from the Sunnah

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The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad further emphasis­es Allah’s independence and self-sufficiency. In a powerful hadith qudsi, Allah says:

“O My servants, all of you are astray except for those whom I have guided, so seek guidance from Me, and I shall guide you. O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those whom I have fed, so seek food from Me, and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except for those whom I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me, and I shall clothe you.” (Muslim, Hadith 2577).

This hadith reflects Allah’s perfection in fulfilling the needs of creation while re­maining independent and unaffected by those needs. Allah’s perfection in providing is limitless, as reflected in another narration:

“Allah’s Hand is full, and it does not diminish by His con­tinuous giving day and night.” (Bukhari, Hadith 4684).

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Human Dependence on Allah

Unlike Allah, humans are intrinsically dependent on Him for every aspect of their existence. Allah says:

“O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praise­worthy.” (Qur’an 35:15).

This dependence is not a weakness but a natural state that reminds us to turn to Al­lah in all matters. The Proph­et Muhammad advised his companions to rely on Allah, saying:

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“If you ask, ask Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Al­lah.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 2516).

Believers are encouraged to place their trust in Allah, as He alone controls every affair:

“And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose.” (Qur’an 65:3).

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai,
1BN – Michel Camp

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