Everyone wants happy relationships with others, and yet we see every day the pain that troubled relationships cause for all concerned. Whether it’s a friendship or a marriage, the bonds that people forge between each other can result in either good or evil. God wants the relationships we establish in our lives to be fulfilling, but when we don’t follow His guidelines in this area, we can run into trouble. The Bible has plenty to say about developing and maintaining godly relationships according to His plan for us.

The first relationship was between Adam and Eve, but it went downhill as soon as they turned away from God’s will for them. They had the best of intentions, but when they began listening to the serpent’s voice instead of God’s voice, everything went wrong. Fast-forwarding to the present, nothing has changed as far as the need for God to be at the center of every relationship. If we want to be surrounded by godly individuals, we must put God first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Exemplifying Christian behavior is crucial to being a good representative of God’s kingdom. When we believe strongly enough in everything the Word of God says, this belief will move from our intellectual mind down into our heart, and show in our speech and actions. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:9-11, NKJV). We’ll stand out from the rest of the world, and attract like-minded individuals whose heartfelt spiritual values line up with ours.

For instance, the world’s “dating scene” is obscene even by its own standards, and if we follow those standards to find a husband or wife, we’ll certainly make a mistake. God loves us and wants us to be happy, and He delights in using other people to show us that love. Unfortunately, when we get involved with the wrong kind of person, the devil has an opportunity to use those closest to us to inflict pain and suffering. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). There are way too many divorces taking place, but following God’s commandment in this area greatly reduces the chances of a painful breakup.

God wants to bless us with Christian friends and a godly marriage, but He ultimately lets us make our own decisions in choosing our friends and future spouse. Associating with the wrong group of people can lead us down the wrong path, and this can be a major stumbling block for us. “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character” (1 Corinthians 15:33, AMP). Praying for guidance in what relationships we should embrace—and which ones to avoid—really works. God will honor this prayer!