Jun 04
8:14 AM
Relationships Are Like Teeth
Jun 04
8:14 AM
Jun 04
8:14 AM
Friday, June 4, 2021
Proverbs 25:19, Proverbs 17:17
Relationships are what life is all about. The people who have the best relationships are always learning how to relate better, and we all can learn to relate better to people. With the environment we're in, in this world, we need to relate better. So today, I have a profound thought for you about relationships. Ready? Here it is: Relationships are like teeth. What I mean by that is that if you want to have nice teeth, you have to get regular checkups. You know, you're supposed to go every six months to see the dentist. So, first you see the dental assistant, and he goes in there, gets that little metal pick, picks around, flosses you, and then puts the teeth cleaner in there. But then, the worst scary part is when the dentist comes in, because he's looking in your mouth for problems. I've had a few cavities, and as he looks in your mouth, you're praying, "Oh please, Lord, don't let him find a cavity. Even if I have a cavity, don't let them see it." Because if they do, then you have to come back, get it filled, and all that.
Here's all I want to say: If you want to have great teeth, you have to have regular checkups to see if there are any problems. If you want to have great relationships, you have to check up on your relationships. That's why relationships are like teeth. And I didn't just randomly make that up, I get it from the Proverbs. The book of Proverbs has tons of advice on relationships. Look at what Proverbs 25:19 says. It says, "Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble." In other words, if relationships are like teeth, and you want to do checkups, sometimes you think you have a great relationship and it's not. you think that's a strong tooth, but man it's got a massive cavity or a small cavity that you haven't seen. You have to check up your relationships know where your relationship is, do a little trial tests to see how they respond. And you may sometimes find that you have overestimated that relationship.
Here's another one. Proverbs 17:17, "A friend is loyal always, and a brother is born to help in time of need." One of the great tests of a relationship when you're trying to give a relational checkup is to ask, "When I need help, will they help me?" Now, I have to make sure you're not asking for $10,000 worth of help from a $10 relationship. You know what I mean? You can ask way too much from a young relationship, but if you ask a reasonable amount from someone you think is a reasonable friend, their response is really going to tell you where the relationship stands. It's so important that you check up on your relationships. You need to find ways to assess and ask, "Is this a solid relationship? Or is this a cavity relationship?" It's really important because sometimes we make mistakes, and we all will, but you don't want to over-rely on a bad relationship, it can really mess you up. So check up on your relationships. How's your relationship with your family, your neighbors, your children if you have them, your parents, your spouse, etc.? Check up on those relationships. If you need to make some improvements, great. If they need to make some improvements and they can't, understand it and know what you got. If they can make improvements, know you got a really good friend.
Let's pray. Father, thank you for the reminder that relationships are like teeth, and we need to rely on the right ones, not the wrong ones. Help us to know how to give ourselves relational checkups like our dentists knows how to check our teeth for cavities. Help us have the discernment to know who we can rely on, and who we shouldn't in our relationships. In Jesus' name. Amen.