Symbiotic Relationships

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Proverbs 27:17 states “As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

If you’re surrounded by people who encourage you in your Faith & Walk with Jesus, who lift you up not tear you down, push you to be better, hold you accountable, but love you as you are: these are the Proverbs 27:17 friends.

They are the friends we need and need to be in this life, and they are hard to find…

In nature there are three kinds of relationships called Symbiotic Relationships.

1.) Mutual (or Mutualism)

2.) Common (or Commensalism)

3.) Parasitic (or Parasitism)

In a mutual relationship both organisms benefit, such as a bee and a flower. In a Common relationship one benefits and the other isn’t affected at all. A Parasitic relationship is great for one but harmful, and sometimes fatal, for the other.

Which best describes you and your relationships? Think about the closest people in your life right now and reconsider… Are you both building and encouraging one another or is one person really gaining from your relationship and the other, not so much. Are you suffering cruel actions or discouraging words to your detriment and the destruction of your self-esteem, while the other profits in mind, body, and soul?

Jesus tells us,

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.

Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jeremiah 31:2 TLV)

and that

“No one has greater love than this:

that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 TLV)

Jesus loves you so much that He died for you and has granted you everlasting life, love, and mercy.

“A man with many friends may be harmed by them,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 TLV)

Jesus is our best and truest friend, one who sticks closer than a brother, loves us unconditionally, and walks with us everyday of our lives; through the good and bad.

Friends, if Jesus loves you and tells you that you are valuable, that you have unconditional, everlasting, never-ceasing love from the Father, then don’t surround yourself with people who say otherwise.

Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10 TLV) 

If you are not living life abundantly in your relationships, relationships of a mutual standing, it’s time to let them go.

I like this quote from Booker T. Washington, it says, “Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” -Booker T. Washington

And that’s a true statement, it may not be fun being alone, I know, but you are not harmed, hurt, or worse-off all together in bad company. And best of all when you’re in a season of being friendless , that’s when you see God’s love and glory and closeness in your life more than you ever have before. And that is the most beautiful and all-satisfying thing!

The Bible clearly leads us on the path of choosing good friendships saying,

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” -Proverbs 12:26

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”-Proverbs 17:17

 

I hope this blog encouraged you my friends, to know that you are valuable, loved and worthy of good relationships! I pray that Jesus’s Love and the Truth of His word will fill you and bring you peace and blessings!

 

Shalom🕊& God Bless you! ☀️

 

 

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