Cultivating Authentic Connections: The Heart of Relationship Building

Exploring Love's Role in Strengthening Bonds with Spouses, Friends, and Beyond

Thinking about the event and conversation caused us to reflect on one of the most important ingredients of a strong relationship: LOVE.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31

In context to the discussion this week, we reflected on replacing the word "neighbor" above with "spouse" or "friend." How do you genuinely build relationships through Love?

We often talk about our children. We love them deeply and unconditionally. We show that in a variety of ways. But ultimately, we love them exactly how God made them! It doesn't mean we always give them what they want or don't discipline them. That's the hard part of parenting: showing "tough" Love at times when we know it is in their best interest.

We get it: love in relationships, either spouses or friends, is different. We can't treat them like they are kids. But how hard are we working at this in our relationships, guys? Are we doing the necessary work to show those we love the time, attention, and care they deserve?

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" 1 Peter 4:8

Guys, let's face it; we are all not perfect. If we are married, our spouses can tell us that! We will make mistakes, say things we regret, do things we shouldn't, not represent our God in a way that makes him SMILE, and not demonstrate the LOVE that God showed us when he sent his son to the cross to die for us!

So, how does all of this translate into building relationships? We don't know that Mario will have all the answers, but he has some great insights to help us on that journey. Guys, we have to say it: we don't think building genuine relationships is getting easier. So many distractions in life, our attention is pulled in every direction. The world is designed to be at the surface level…how do we bring it back to being AUTHENTIC? We hope to connect with other Christian Men through social and serving events, Fistbumps, and devotions and form relationships beyond Seven24. 

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God" 1 John 4:7