Relationships Part 1 – Need for Relationships
This study is the beginning of a six part series on Relationships.
Reality of Our Need
1. Human beings are characterized by their need and desire for relationship. God has made us in such a
way that some of our needs can only be met in and through relationships.
2. The first negative thing God said about his creation, was “it is not good for man to be alone.” (Gen. 2:
18-25)
a. The marriage relationship was God’s solution for man’s loneliness. He designed this relationshipto bring two together as one.b. No one was created to be self- sufficient, people were made to need each other.3. Met needs build and strengthen relationships. Unmet needs erode and destroy them.
Role of Sin
1. Impact on us: The impact of sin is pervasive and devastating. Sin has distorted and damaged everydimension of the creation that God called “very good.” (Gen. 1:31) it is a universal problem (Romans
3:10-12)
a. Sin has darkened our hearts (Romans 1: 21)b. Sin causes us to behave in ways that are ugly (Romans 1: 29-31)c. Sin binds and enslaves us, so that we do things we don’t want to do (Romans7:15) d. Sin leads to death (Romans 8: 7-8)e. Sin distorts our relationships (Gal. 5: 19-21)2. Influence on society
a. Addiction to power in this worldb. Addiction to lustc. Addiction to greedd. Addiction to worldliness, acceptance and popularitye. Addiction to freedom and doing your own thing
Root of Selfishness
1. Most relationship difficulties eventually can be traced to the problem of selfishness.2. Selfishness is the exclusive consideration by a person of his own interests. We are naturally self-
seeking, self-centered beings.
