Relationships

Today’s Focus: Investing in solid relationships can build generational connections that will sustain and encourage those who follow you.

Almost every Christian has heard of King David and King Solomon.

As we mentioned in day one, it was Solomon who completed the temple that David wanted to build.

But many Christians don’t realize that there was another king who was highly influential in the building of the Temple.

King Hiram of Tyre was a contemporary and ally of King David. In what seems highly unusual for a foreign king, he not only maintained a friendly relationship with Israel during David’s reign, he actually welcomed the transition when David’s son succeeded him to the throne.

[1Kings 5:1, 7 NIV] “When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. ... When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was greatly pleased and said, ‘Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.’”

King Hiram then supplied all the raw materials and labor force Solomon requested to begin the construction of the Temple.

In other words, David’s ability to create favorable relationships was a key element that led to Solomon achieving his greatest cultural and creative accomplishment.

The relationships we build in life don’t expire when we do. They become a part of the legacy we leave and can become a tremendous blessing to those who follow us.

Even Jesus recognized the need to leave a legacy of relationships. Besides giving the disciples the charge to love one another as a sign of their commitment to Christ (John 13:33-34 NIV), He also left us the Holy Spirit who has become our Comforter and Teacher - the ultimate example of the relationship between God and man.

The priority of relationships is evident in every part of a Godly legacy. The connections we build, the bonds we form, and the culture we cultivate will have a huge impact on those who follow us. If we don’t prioritize them now, it will be very difficult for anyone to strengthen those bonds after we leave the scene.

One example of how relationships help form our legacies is the friendship of legendary writers J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. For years, these two titans of literature met regularly in English pubs alongside their circle of authors, called the “Inklings.”

While they had their disagreements, their close relationship was a major catalyst to their respective successes as authors. Tolkien’s influence helped convince C.S. Lewis to fully embrace Christianity. Lewis was one of Tolkien’s biggest supporters when The Hobbit was published.

Without this relationship, we may never have had great works of literature, like The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings, that have inspired millions of readers and have created an entire genre of books and movies.

The way you treat your relationships now will determine how those relationships will impact your future.

If you prioritize relationships, people will be able to trace your impact on them to the impact others had on you. The relationships you build today will help others build their own legacies of faith, long after your work on earth is done.

Make every effort to follow the patterns of Romans 12:9-21 in how you establish relationships.

Before we close this study, we’ll move on to discuss the final piece of a creator’s Godly legacy - the mandate to do more.

Application for Today

How have you sown into your relationships recently? Are you making steps to show love, appreciation, and kindness to those in your world?
Knowing that it will likely be these people who will carry on your legacy after you're gone, make sure you spend time daily looking for ways to bless and encourage them.