True Relationships

Relationships are exciting ­ they are the most important aspect of our lives; our relationship with our parents, friends, spouse, children, grandchildren and so on. Christianity is first and foremost about relationships, not rules. It is about a person, rather than a philosophy; it is about the most important relationship of all ­ our relationship with the God who made us.

Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God. But the second is to love our neighbour, so it is about our relationship with other people. You and I were created to live in a relationship with YAHWEH ­ until we find that relationship, something will always be missing in our lives. As a result, we are often aware of a gap: one man described it by saying `I've got an emptiness deep inside.' Another young girl spoke of a `chunk` missing in her life. People try to fill this emptiness in various ways: some try to close the gap with money, but that does not satisfy. Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world, said something like this at the end of his life: `millions of dollars or people are not what a man needs out of life.' Others try drugs, alcohol, or sexual promiscuity. These things provide instant gratification, but they leave you feeling hollow afterwards. Still others try hard work, music, or sports, or they seek success. Maybe nothing is wrong with the latter four of these in themselves, but they do not satisfy that hunger deep inside every human being.

Nothing will fill this gap except the relationship with God who made us. According to the New Testament, the reason for this emptiness is that men and women have turned their backs on God. Jesus said, `I am the bread of life' (John 6:35). He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger, because He is the one who made it possible for us to be restored to a relationship with God and bring us close to Him.

Bro. Uka Egwu, (Ohafia Ecclesia, Nigeria.)