Introduction:
Relationship is a very vital aspect of human existence as it portrays our connection to one another, to our families, fellow Christians, neighbours, nation, the world and God. It involves affinity, love, association and linkage. God who is self-revealing is portrayed as a God who seeks relationships with the created. In Leviticus 26:11-16 He promised the nation of Israel “I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” Unfortunately Israel at various times spurned this relationship leading to God reminding them in Hosea 11:1-2a that “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went from me”. They preferred a relationship with the world.
Establishing relationship and community seems to be a vital desire and activity of our God. As humans created in the image of God, we also seek and desire relationships. The challenge, however, is in determining what relationships we are to promote and which we are to stay away from. In psychodynamics, it is stated that relationships are ultimately driven by a desire to satisfy needs (or wants), which may then lead to the question of what our needs truly are. Are they really needs or short-sighted wants? Following this, I believe, is the determination whether these relationships are hurting or enhancing the needs?
The world presents before us many “goodies” that appear to be what we need but are opposed to God. These were encapsulated in the temptation that faced Eve that made her and Adam to sin and fall from their fellowship with God (Genesis 3:1-7) and also the temptation Jesus faced and overcame, which enhanced His fellowship with God (Matthew 4:1-11).
Apostle John classified these as “—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches” (1 John 2:16b). Unfortunately these temptations still confront us daily today and they determine the relationships we promote. They are known to be responsible for the evils that are in the world today. As Christians, the world awaits our manifestation that it may be set free. (Romans 8:19-21) So what then should be our relationship with the world?
Example of Daniel and his friends
Daniel 1, gives the story of Daniel, Shadrach; Meshach; and Abednego. Four of them were among the captives that were taken from Israel by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon as slaves under the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah. They were among the Israeli youths singled out to be stationed at the Babylonian Court for their wisdom and the other criteria used (Daniel 1:4). They were privileged and had the opportunity to take advantage of their position to satisfy the desires of their flesh, eyes and amass wealth but they decided to set their limits so they will not hurt their relationship with God. They refused to partake in the portion of the king’s delicacies and choice wine that were set before them daily because they never wanted to be defiled (v8-14). They were in the system, they excelled (ref v20 – And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm), but they never allowed the system to transform them. Romans 12:2 says “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”
Things went well for them, rising to be leaders in Babylon (Daniel 2:48-49) but they had their challenges: Shadrach; Meshach and Abednego were cast into the burning fiery furnace because they refused to bow to the Golden image King Nebuchadnezzar had made (Daniel 3). Also in the Old Testament reading, today, Daniel was cast into the den of lions during the reign of King Darius of the Medes, following his disobedience of his decree that no one should make any petition to God or any god other than him for 30 days.
The Christian Relationship
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego give us a good example of how today Christians should relate with the world. The four friends lived in Babylon, worked diligently with all honesty, excelled, and were elevated but never lost track of who they were – they were in the Babylon system but not of the system. Christians are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values (John 17:14-15). We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2).
By simple definition the word world as used in the New Testament, refers to the present world system, which is ruled by Satan (1 John 5: 19). As believers we are no longer of that system as we are no longer ruled by sin, nor are we bound by the principles of the system. In addition, we are being changed into the image of Christ, causing our interest in the things of the world to become less and less as we mature in Christ. Jesus said in John 15:19 “If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own.
Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you”. As the Christian relates with the world hatred is to be expected but being in the world and not of it, is necessary if we are to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness (Matthew 5:14-16). However, being “in” the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the worship of God.
Apostle Paul cautioned in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16a that was read to us today that believers should not be “unequally yoked with unbelievers”. “This section of 2 Corinthians is one of the key passages in all the word of God on the subject of separation. It is clear instruction that the believer should separate himself from unbelievers, iniquity, darkness, Belial, idols. It certainly also refers to the marriage relationship. A Christian should not marry an unsaved person. However, in cases where a believer is already married to an unbeliever, this passage does not justify separation or divorce. God’s will in such a case is that the marriage relationship should be maintained with a view to the eventual salvation of the unsaved member (1 Cor. 7:12–16)… It applies clearly, to secret orders or fraternities: How could one who is faithful to Christ consistently go on in an association where the name of the Lord Jesus is unwelcome? Its application to social life would be as follows: A Christian should maintain contact with the unsaved in an effort to win them to Christ, but he should never engage in their sinful pleasures or in any of their activities in such a way as to lead them to think he is no different than they. “– Curled from Believer’s commentary.
Like Shadrach; Meshach; and Abednego we should always stand for our belief as Christians and be ready to make any sacrifices that our standing would demand of us. Unfortunately here we have a lot of our failings as professed Christians. The Nigerian system has thrown a lot of challenges to professing Christians and many are failing Christ. As politicians, people in authority, business executives, workers, students we need to examine how far we have carried our Christians morals in our operations. How do we explain so many professed Christians in our political space but yet so much evil surround us? How do we explain the so much lawlessness and wickedness in our society with so many professed Christians? Someone wrote that “Christians who make every effort to live, think and act like those who do not know Christ do Him a great disservice. Even the heathen knows that ‘by their fruits you shall know them,’ and as Christians, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit within us.” 1 Peter 4:15-16 cautions “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
TALK BACK – Comments and Questions.
CONCLUSION:
While Believers must as a necessity live in the world, make a living and win souls to Christ we must promote relationships that would ultimately end us eternal felicity with our creator. Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:14-16 thus “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches —comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.”
MEMORY VERSE – ROMANS 12: 2.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.