Real Relationships That Last

It says in the Bible that the truth shall set you free. Honesty is always the best policy.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Cross Talk nine one one where the real
life meets real solutions on Pastor Laurie and here we
don't shy away from the hard questions we face lives
emergencies with faith, truth and the power of God's word.
Let's get started. When it comes to relationships, whether friendships

(00:21):
or romantic connections, what are the most important truths we
must remember? Is this? Your worth is not determined by
what others think of you. God has already declared your value,
and Jesus said, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Notice that he didn't say instead of yourself, He said

(00:42):
as yourself. To love others, well, you must also love
who God made you to be. Building personal relationships is
not always simple because people are different. Some are introverted,
some are extroverted. Some are easy to talk to, while
others are more guarded. In each case, we often feel

(01:03):
like we're putting on a different cap to connect. But
no matter the situation, one thing never changes. God calls
us to live in honesty, and Jesus promised, you will
know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Sadly,
many relationships, even Christian ones, being without honesty, and they

(01:26):
begin without honesty, People hide what they really believe or
stretch the truth just to make a good impression. Later,
when the truth comes out, trust is broken, and without trust,
no friendship or marriage can stand. That's one reason why
divorce rates are so high today, y'all. Too many people

(01:47):
rush into relationships without asking the deeper questions. What brings
you joy? What do you value the most? What do
you believe God's purposes for your life? As for me,
I haven't always lived by God's word. I made mistakes,
I sinned, and I lived my own way. But when

(02:08):
I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, everything changed. My
perspective on friendships, love, and life itself shifted. I no
longer desire the empty things that once filled my time,
the loud music, the party, the partying. It no longer
satisfies my soul. Instead, I seek friendships and relationships that

(02:29):
are rooted in truth and honesty and God's word. That
means I'm up front about my values. If someone doesn't
share them, I don't try to force it. We simply
part ways in peace. Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs chapter
twenty seven, verse six. In other words, honesty, even when

(02:53):
it's uncomfortable, is always better than pretending. This is why
Scripture warns us to be equally. If we ignore that wisdom,
we set ourselves up for a heartbreak. For example, if
someone is deeply political or holds values that go against
your convictions, pretending to be okay with it will only

(03:14):
cause conflict later. Honesty from the beginning prevents unnecessary pain.
I believe with all my heart that if we live
by the moral compass of the Bible, relationships would look
different in our world today. Truth would be treasured, purity
would be respected, marriage would be honored as the scarred

(03:38):
covenant God designed it to be, and people would have
the freedom to walk in love without the fear of betrayal.
At the end of the day, whether it's a friendship,
a partnership, or a marriage, honesty and biblical love must
be the foundation. Love does not delight in evil, but

(03:59):
rejoice with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always preserves First Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verse six through seven.
So if someone shares your values and seeks Christ with
all their heart, Praise God. That's a relationship worth nurturing,

(04:21):
and if not, don't be afraid to walk away with
kindness and grace, shake hands, bless them, and move forward
in peace. Because the right relationships, the one, the ones
that God ordains, will never require you to compromise your
faith or your honesty. You've been listening to Crosstalk nine

(04:43):
one one with Pastor Laurie, Real Life, Real Solutions. Until
next time, walk and grace and power