Relationship: What is their purpose

So we have established that for a relationship to exist it requires two persons who can relate to one another and then love has the capacity to be fulfilled.

We have discussed that the originator of relationships was God himself, in a perfect relationship with the Son and Holy Spirit and it would be incoherent if God was self existent without another person, have a desire, motivation, ability or want to create relationships.

We also discussed that it is noteworthy that you came into existence via a relationship, you were birthed into existence via a prior relationship.  That is you just did not pop into existence via a random collation of particles that pre-existed from nothing or the quantum vacuum.  There was intention prior to your creation.

Finally we discussed that hence the very essence, purpose of your existence and mine is to be in relationship with other persons. That is, the worst thing that could happen to you is to be in complete isolation.   And that the breakdown in our world is caused by the breakdown of relationships, the example being what was the first sin post the fall: Murder.

So two things I want to cover today:

If the purpose of my existence is to be in relationship with God and fellow man, then:

1. Who are my most important relationships that I should pursue?

2. Is there a framework for how to function in those relationships?

(Today we should have at least helped provide a frame of reference for one of the most fundamental questions in your life that you and i have: What is my purpose? What is the purpose for my existence? - in other words; What am I doing here, how and why did I get here and what am I suppose to do with my life?  - to the average man may laugh at such deep reflective questioning, but he laughs because he doesn't know and wants to hide in a dark corner , known as the pub, pokies, porn, fast cars, self admiration, career , sex and self gratification)

You see Jesus gives the most apt description of your and mine predicament:

1. He calls you and me on our relationship with God and states and then practically shows how broken it is.

Matthew 9: 10-13 'Later Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests along wth many tax collectors and other disreputable sinner. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples 'Why does your teacher eat with such scum?'
When JEsus heard this, he said. 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do'. Then he added 'Nw go and learn what this meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not sacrifices'. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners"

John 3:16


2. He calls you and me on relationship with each other:

Sermon on the mount. Matthew 5-7
Matthew 7: 9-10: You parents - if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you wicked people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him"

Matthew 5: 40 - 48: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

What I see in my own heart in the world around me is the capacity for evil and destruction of the very essence of our existence: to be in a functional relationship. I fight every day to keep mine fulfilling their purpose. 

My relationship with God

My marriage

My children

My extended family

My friends

My colleagues

My neighbors

My enemies

Evil is the use of someone or something for which they or it was not purposed for.  It is the breakage of original purpose.