Find Out Your Purpose in Life, Part 4: Build Bridges, Don't Burn Them
By Zach3000, 3rd Dec 2011 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutFamilyReligion
Learn the importance of building friendships in life, which is directly related to your true purpose in life. If you can develop meaningful relationships with other people, your life will experience more joy and happiness, while building a strong community. Read to find out more.
- Recap
- Building Bridges With Other People
- Friendships Are Important
- Don't Burn Those Bridges!
- Be a Friend to Someone
- Continue Reading the Series...
Recap
Note: This is part four of how to find your true purpose in life. You can read part one here; part two here, and part three here.
To sum up what we've learned so far in the Find Out Your Purpose series, to stop spinning your wheels (part one) and overcome loneliness (part two), you must:
- Muse on God and the things of God (which you will find in the Bible).
- Confess your sins to God in prayer, believe Jesus died on the cross, and repent from your sins to get right with God and to receive the Holy Spirit.
- Find a Bible-believing church, and experience real Christian fellowship.
Part three gives an example of someone's faith in practice. If you your life does not reflect your faith, then your ship may run aground, as part three is appropriately titled.
Building Bridges With Other People
As we have learned so far about the Ten Commandments, the first five commandments can be summed up to love God. The second five can be accurately summed up to love others.
These two concepts represent the cross. If you took the vertical line of the cross, this is your relationship with God. If you only love God, but have no desire to have a good standing with other people, then there is a problem with your spiritual life.
You can't honestly love God if you do not love others.
So, you may have figured out that the horizontal axis of the cross represents your relationship with other people.
To have a real relationship with God, you must become a "bridge builder." That means you must learn how to connect with other people. This may require you to serve, love, and care for those that can offer little or nothing in return.
Galatians 5:13-14 says: "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Friendships Are Important
One of the most important principles to understand from the Bible is that relationships with other people are important.
Building and developing meaningful relationships are critical to your spiritual growth and development.
God did not create anyone to live alone, isolated from the world.
He created us to enjoy life, while honoring Him, while in fellowship with others.
So don't allow yourself to get comfortable in a cave. Get out there and meet new people, learn new things, and experience the fullness of life.
Don't Burn Those Bridges!
Just as you realize the importance of creating relationships with other people, attempt to be at peace with all people.
The inverse of building bridges is burning them. To burn a bridge is to end, or terminate, a friendship. While this may be your only option in certain situations, it is not healthy to do this on a regular basis.
If you cannot work through simple disagreements, then you may be dealing with unforgiveness.
If that is the case, I recommend that you read my Wikinut article on this subject, found here.
If you allow unforgiveness into your life, it will hinder you from a relationship with God. Unforgiveness is a sin, and a serious one at that.
1 John 4:20 says: "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."
Be a Friend to Someone
A parting thought: Consider making a new friend in the coming days.
Try striking up a conversation with a complete stranger. You never know, they may need a friend, and you can always use one more.
Who knows, they may even turn out to be a lifelong friend that will never leave your side.
Continue Reading the Series...
If you have enjoyed the Find Out Your Purpose in Life series, then continue reading! Part five shares how you can know where God is leading you. Read it here.
Comments
3rd Dec 2011 (#)
Hi zach just let you know that i have read this article thrice and not even a single time i get bored...besides after reading this article there are so many positive things going on in my mind right now, it's only because of you! THANKS TO YOU AGAIN ZACH!
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3rd Dec 2011 (#)
I appreciate your comment. Thank you.
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7th Dec 2011 (#)
This is a wonderful page, Zach. I need to keep in mind everything you say. In fact, I will print out Parts I, II, III and IV. You have added value to my life. Thank you.
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