Connection in the world is not like connection in God’s Kingdom.
As believers, we must know the difference from the world's perspective and God's perspective. God is a covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. He’s all about covenant.
Our modern society is built upon contractual agreements and unfortunately, it has spilled over into how we do relationships. A contract is based on legalism. I believe this is why people lack true commitment because they see their relationship as a contract and not a covenant.
In a contract people are bound by the paper of laws. So when the terms and conditions of the contract are not kept or the terms and conditions are violated, they exit. The validation of their exit is based on the contract terms and conditions.
But in a covenant, you are bound to each other.
You can read in scripture where God made covenants with people. This teaches us that He's all about relational covenants. A covenant is not like a contract. A covenant is based on grace and mercy, not legalism.
In todays times, people don't observe their relational covenants. For most people, commitment seems to be convenience based. Meaning commitment is only to their convenience.
True commitment is not always convenient,
if it was, the word commitment would kinda lose it’s meaning. I mean that’s what makes loyalty, loyalty. Loyalty means being committed at whatever cost.
In one of Jesus teaching, He talked about considering and counting the cost before you start to build. When it comes to building a relationship,
you should consider the cost before you commit.
It's easy to say you are someone’s friend, but will you still be their friend when you don't feel friendly? Commitment is not based on a feeling, but a willing. One of the things I consider when connecting with others in a covenant relationship is how committed they are to themselves. If you are not committed to yourself, you are not gonna be that much more committed to me.
Don’t get caught up in what people say, watch what they do. People will tell you anything. Some people are not even committed to themselves which explains why they aren’t committed in their relationships.
True relationship is when the ship continues to sail, and not sink, through storms.
The truth of the matter is this; everything in life will be tested, including your relationships. This is a good thing because anything that is tested can be trusted. This is why God test, to see if you can be trusted.
God is institutional and He instituted two; the family and the church. Both of these institutions are made up of people which means they are built on relationships. These are covenantal relationships. They are also just, righteous and accountable relationships.
The Old and New Testaments contain covenants God made with mankind. God didn’t do away with the Old Testament covenant just because the people didn’t uphold their end, He just replaced it with a new one. Jesus is our catalyst to a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:6).
Our relational connection should be covenantal.
Marriage is a covenant, but so is friendship. However, they are on different levels. There are levels of covenant, marriage being the highest. There are certain things that are only available to certain levels of covenant. For an example: You wouldn't tell your secrets to everybody. There are certain things that a person would share with their spouse that they wouldn't share with their friends.
Look at Jesus, He had a covenant with God. He also had covenant with the 3, His inner circle; Peter, James and John. Then He had the 12. There were times where Jesus would go off by Himself to spend time with God. There were things that He shared with the 3 that He didn’t share with the 12. There were things He taught the 12, He didn’t teach to the multitudes. It’s levels to this!
There is a lack of covenantal commitment in relationships.
People don't stay friends long. People marry today and divorce tomorrow. Being in a covenant is a willingness to put aside your individual DNA and bring together a corporate DNA. It's commitment and accountability. If you aren't willing to commit and be accountable in covenant, don't connect.
Connection, in God's world, is so that we can be a blessing to each other. It’s also so that we can develop.
When connected in a romantic relationship, there should be a commitment.
