4 Levels of Relationship (1)

FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, STEWARDSHIP, PARTNERSHIP.

These are the four levels of relationship in a church. Each level has its value and validation but we must not stay at the lowest or most comfortable level. There must be a continual progress to a higher level so that our church can be a strong finishing generation for God and His destiny for our lives. What a church embrace, emphasize and empower will reveal the level they are at and what they are building. The level they are at will define the maturity and strength of the church.

FRIENDSHIP
Very often people stay in church or stray from church because of their friends. They value friendship and friendship is important. Friendship is a wonderful bridge to reach out to people and a powerful tool to enrich people. We will do well as a church where warm and true friendship can be seen and felt by all who come. Breaking down barriers and building bridges should be in the hearts of every member. Many are facing a society that is often hostile, sceptical, negative and unfriendly. The church should be a place of refuge (not refuse) and a place to be refreshed (not for the flesh). We should reach out to people and see them with significance and not just for our church attendance. The ex-blind man could only see people walking as trees. Jesus put His hands on him again and made his eyes to see people clearly (read Mark 8:22-25). Let’s ask the Lord to touch our eyes to see people as He sees them. When Jesus saw the crowd, He was moved with compassion (read Matthew 9:36-38).

Friendship is the first level of relationship in the church. We must build on this but we must not remain at this level. We must move forward. Otherwise we are in danger of becoming a more people-friendly church and a less God-friendly church. The level of commitment, sacrifice and service is not high at the Friendship Level and to stay at this level, we will not reproduce strong committed Christians. We must not be easily stumbled or offended by so-called ‘unfriendly’ strong sermons, challenges and demands for transformed lives. We must choose to stand with what God is saying (truth), what God is doing (work) and where God is leading (destiny). More than being a friend to our friends, we must choose to be friends of God and have the friendly counsel of God over our tents (Job 29:4).

GanKS