#1 - "A righteous man is cautious in friendship." (Proverbs 12:26 NIV).

Relationships require care and nurture. They also require wisdom. Every one of our relationships will reflect our character. Our words and deeds either build or erode the loyalty and trust people voluntarily put in us. We must be careful as we choose and cultivate our friendships.

Within each of our hearts there is a desire for 'unfailing love' and 'loyal' friends. We are made to love and be loved, to enjoy and be enjoyed, to affirm and be affirmed. Yet our 'natural' love often fails others. And the love of others often fails us. We are unable to love people with the love that they truly deserve. No matter how loving and loyal our friends may be, they will not be able to encourage or critique us every time we need them to.

King Solomon deposited this nugget of wisdom into his treasury of inspired Proverbs: "Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6 NIV).

All humankind falls short of fulfilling what Jesus said was the Greatest Commandment: "Thou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind" or the second greatest commandment, which is to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37). We fail to love God with the love He deserves. We fail to love our neighbors with the love that they deserve. And Jesus tells us that the love our neighbors deserve is the same love we were created to experience: the love of God. We fail to love ourselves the way God intended us to.

There is an exception to this rule. There is one man who actually lives up to the full claims of 'unfailing love'. The love of God never fails. It is patient, kind, forbears and forgives. This love was perfectly articulated in the flesh and blood humanity of Jesus Christ, God's unique eternally begotten Son. There is one man alone in human history who was able to fulfill the commandments and personify the righteous character of God in all his words and deeds. All that God promised to do in His written covenant is spelled out in the humanity of Jesus. God's love is demonstrated as Jesus Christ willingly laid down His life to pay the full legal compensation for our sins and secure our pardon and acceptance into His family.

Relationships require care. Ben Franklin said, "Enter into marriage with both eyes wide open. Keep them half closed afterward." We must choose our companions carefully. We must also be careful to forgive and forbear in order to fulfill our commitments to love.

The Bible teaches us the value of covenant commitments. Relationships grow when we choose to love. Marital love rekindles when we renew our commitment. The feelings of 'love' follow steps that honor our covenant commitments.

God will prove to be faithful to His covenant of Grace. He has made a commitment to love and forgive those who put their trust in Him on the basis of the redemption that is provided in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). What about you? "God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." (Romans 5:5). Through His indwelling life we can take steps on a day by day basis to fulfill our covenant commitments to serve others in love.

David MacAdam, Pastor/Teacher
New Life Community Church