Experiencing Joy in Relationships
Philippians 2:2
"Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Keeping joy in every relationship will be one of the hardest tasks for you to accomplish. There are many people who endure relationships when they should be enjoying them. Many married couples are enduring their marriage when marriage is supposed to be one of the most joyous relationships in life. Church members endure their relationship with their church when church is supposed to be a meaningful relationship. Friends watch their friendships go by the wayside when friendships should be something that is enjoyed for life. In today's world, it seems that every type of relationship is under attack.
You can't avoid relationships for life is filled with them. However, if we were to break down every relationship, we would find that they would all fall into two categories; your relationship with God, and your relationship with mankind. If you get both of these relationships right, then you will live a joyous life. However, if you get one of these relationships wrong, then you will find that both relationships suffer and your life will be filled with turmoil.
God gives us the key to experiencing joy in every relationship. God says the way to have joy in each relationship is to become likeminded. A married couple who becomes likeminded will find the joy in their relationship that they desired when they got married. The church that is filled with church members who are likeminded will be a church that is filled with joy. Friends who are likeminded will find their relationship can last a lifetime. Becoming likeminded is the key to a joyous relationship.
God shows us how to become likeminded when He says to become likeminded we must have "...the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."In other words, we must keep the same focus, stay in harmony with what we do, and prefer each other so that we can have one mind. This is the only way we will become likeminded. Having like minds will result in a relationship filled with joy.
To further illustrate how this is done, God reminds us how Jesus did this. Verse 7 says that Jesus "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,..." This is the key to becoming likeminded. You will never become likeminded in any relationship until you set your desires aside to serve the other in your relationships. Though Jesus had every right for people to serve Him, He instead chose to serve others to accomplish the task of becoming likeminded.
If your marriage is going to become likeminded, then you are going to have to make it your choice to serve your spouse. You may ask, "What about my rights in the marriage?" If you have that mentality, then you will never achieve becoming likeminded. Both husband and wife must set aside their agendas and become a servant to the other.
Likewise, if you want to have a good relationship with your church, then you must take on the mentality of becoming a servant. In other words, decide to serve others in your church. If the only reason you go to church is to see what you can get out of it, then you will find your relationship with your church will struggle.
The key to every relationship being filled with joy is to learn to set aside your desires and serve the other. When you start serving others, you will find that you will become likeminded, and joy will be the byproduct of this action. Stop seeing what you can get out of each relationship and start working at serving others. In doing so you will find a joy in relationships that will never end.