The basis of any quality friendship is mutual respect, honoring one another's personality style as being different but complimentary of our own.
Keep in mind we are not talking about sin in this discussion. We are never to accept sin in anyone, however we can confidently with compassion speak our concerns to a true friend, this ought to be reciprocal. When a friend comes to us with a concern, we ought to be willing to listen to the concern, going to prayer about it and coming back to our friend with an answer. Often we already know the answer, when this is the case, we can speak to the matter immediately, there is no reason to wait.
The key to friendships is a lack of pride or need to be always right.
If we are ruled by a false self, we tend to be overly sensitive and combative when corrected or challenged in any way. When we are genuine and honest we are much more willing to accept criticism when it comes.
We must have a genuine attitude of empathy toward our friends. Speaking truth while treating one another with honor and respect. There can be no friendship when there is no respect. When one person elevates themselves above another, there can only be conflict and destructive superiority.
I found a wonderful study on the matter of honor, that is worthwhile for every believer to read and implement. I feel that this matter of honor and respect has been lost in the American culture. The link to this study is below;
http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/RA/k/164/A-Matter-of-Honor.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment