Maintaining Relationships Help In Meeting Needs

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.’ (Titus 3:14 NKJV)

Yesterday I sent out a couple of Christmas cards to folks I’ve known for a long time. One couple I pretty much keep in contact with is only through the exchange of Christmas cards, with a one-page letter that they provide a synopsis of their year (and an update on folks we know through our former work together), and the one-page letter I send back to them reciprocating the information of the ‘year in review’ synopsis of how things went with me and my family.

The other person I send a card to (with the same ‘year in review’ letter enclosed) also occasionally texts me on holidays and my birthday, and I usually reciprocate those as well. I also have a friend from my work at SOCOM that we periodically exchange calls to catch up with. I’ve found it doesn’t take much to maintain a relationship, and I know if asked they would be willing to help me or at least be an open ear and again, I know they know I am willing to reciprocate as well.

These types of relationships are not what I would say are close, but there is a bond in trust and friendship that we have; shared experiences that we’ve had that provide us the knowledge of each other, who we are, what we stand for, and our openness to hear things out. It is a level of dependability we have with each other. It is not as close a relationship I have with those in my Life Group, and certainly not as close as my wife or family, but they are, to me, trusted relationships that I treasure. I am truly thankful for these relationships, even if they are only periodic or annual – they help me maintain a foundation of trust and remind me that there are still those relationships that stand over the course of time.

Normally I would quote from the NIV, but the NKJV and KJV translations both use the word ‘maintain’ in Titus 3:14.  Paul in his letter (epistle) to Titus implores Titus to have the people he is teaching to learn to maintain ‘good works’.  What do we need to do to maintain good works?  First, we must maintain a good personal relationship with Jesus so we know what good works are.  So then the question is, what do we need to do to maintain our personal relationship with Jesus?  Well, how do we maintain our personal relationships with our families or friends? 

To maintain a relationship, we must engage and keep in touch, communicating with each other so we get to know each other.  The friends I have today are the ones I keep in touch of; those I know better are the ones I keep in touch of more often than the ones I contact periodically.  For my Life Group family members I’m in touch with you at least once a week in class (some of you even more), and we talk about our lives, our projects, our families, our work – we know each other’s dealings, feelings and quarks to a good degree. 

There are others I call irregularly to keep in touch, but I don’t really know more than what they tell me outside of the 10-minute chat we have.  What about friends we’ve had in high school?  I haven’t been in contact with any of them since leaving Pennsylvania decades ago, except for perhaps a very brief conversation once or twice in the last 40 years.  I really don’t know them at all anymore, so I cannot say I have a relationship with any of them.

In order to maintain our personal relationship with Jesus, we must frequently talk to Him and the more frequent we communicate with Jesus the better we will know Him.  The three ways we communicate with Jesus is simple; prayer, reading the Bible, and doing His works through obedience.  Prayer is multi-faceted; it is actual praying but it is also meditating upon His word, taking the time to silently listen for Him. 

Reading the Bible you learn more about Him as He (through the Holy Spirit) will show you insights while you read.  When you do His bidding, through obedience, such as witnessing or using your Spiritual Gifts, you show Him you understand.  Don’t worry if you miss the mark when trying to obey Jesus, as He may use that as a teachable moment in your life.  Spiritual Maintenance is something we can all do – stay in touch with Jesus, so we can know what it is we need to do and remain fruitful to Him!