Serving the Lord in Relationships

WE WERE CREATED TO BE IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYONE HERE THAT IS LIKE A MONK THAT KEEPS HIMSELF QUARANTINED FROM THE WORLD. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE SEE THAT IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN THAT ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT THE LORD SAID WAS THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE. WE WERE CREATED WITH THE NEED OF COMPANIONSHIP.

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE TO PICK YOU UP WHEN YOU FALL DOWN. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE HELP WHEN WE ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH LIFE. WE NEED OTHERS TO SHARE OUR VICTORIES AND OUR DEFEATS WITH. WE NEED OTHERS TO HELP US TO STAY STRONG AND TO FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT WE FACE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT OUR INTERACTIONS WITH FRIENDS, COWORKERS, THOSE WHO WE’RE DATING, OR ANYONE ELSE CAN THAT CAN BE ENCOURAGING OR DISCOURAGING, HEARTBREAKING OR JOYFUL, GOOD OR DETRIMENTAL TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

KNOWING HOW VITAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS ARE, THE DEVIL HAS SO OFTEN USED THOSE WHO WE ARE SOMETIMES THE CLOSEST TO TO TRY TO GET US TO STUMBLE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. HE USED PETER TO TRY TO THROW A STUMBLING BLOCK BEFORE OUR LORD BY HAVING PETER TELL THE LORD THAT HE COULD NOT GO TO JERUSALEM TO DIE. WE NEED TO BE ON GUARD AND RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON BEING IN GODLY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT, IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT SATAN IS USING US JUST AS HE WAS USING PETER IN THE CASE W/ THE LORD.

WHEN IT COMES TO RELATIONSHIPS, ESPECIALLY AS YOUNG PEOPLE, ONE THING THAT YOU NEED TO REALIZE IS, THOSE WHO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME WITH CAN CHANGE YOU FOR GOOD OR FOR BAD AND CAN AFFECT THE LIVES OF OTHERS FOR GOOD OR FOR BAD FOR YEARS TO COME. THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ASSOCIATE WITH CAN HAVE QUITE AN IMPACT ON WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU BECOME IN THE FUTURE.

IN THIS LESSON, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE GOALS AND SOME DANGERS OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, AND LATER ON IN THE LESSON MAKE A MAIN APPLICATION TO DATING RELATIONSHIPS.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF OUR INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS AS GOD’S PEOPLE?

1. GOALS OF FRIENDSHIPS WITH OTHERS

a. TO GLORIFY GOD

i. “WHATEVER YOU DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.”

1. EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THE LORD WILL BE HONORED AND GLORIFIED.

2. WE NEED OUR FOCUS TO BE ON SERVING GOD IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS, NOT ON SERVING OURSELVES!

ii. "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

1. WE NEED THE THINGS WE DO TO BRING GLORY TO GOD, NOT TO US. WE NEED TO REFLECT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST IN OUR FRIENDSHIPS WITH THOSE IN THE WORLD. WE NEED TO HAVE THE FOCUS IN OUR FRIENDSHIPS WITH THOSE OF THE WORLD TO HELP THEM TO SEE THE LORD IN US AND THEIR NEED FOR THE LORD.

2. 11 BELOVED, I URGE YOU AS ALIENS AND STRANGERS TO ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS WHICH WAGE WAR AGAINST THE SOUL. 12 KEEP YOUR BEHAVIOR EXCELLENT AMONG THE GENTILES, SO THAT IN THE THING IN WHICH THEY SLANDER YOU AS EVILDOERS, THEY MAY BECAUSE OF YOUR GOOD DEEDS, AS THEY OBSERVE THEM, GLORIFY GOD IN THE DAY OF VISITATION.

b. BE AN EXAMPLE

1. LET NO ONE LOOK DOWN ON YOUR YOUTHFULNESS, BUT RATHER IN SPEECH, CONDUCT, LOVE, FAITH AND PURITY, SHOW YOURSELF AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

2. IT’S HARD SOMETIMES TO BE DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE AROUND YOU. WITH EVERYONE ELSE AROUND US LIVING LIVES THAT ARE SELFISH AND NOT FOCUSED ON THE LORD, IT MAY BECOME VERY TEMPTING TO BE MORE LIKE YOUR FRIENDS SO THAT YOU ARE ACCEPTED. BUT IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS, WE NEED TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY FROM THE WORLD.

3. DOES THE WAY YOU LIVE SHOW OTHERS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST? DOES BEING AROUND YOUR FRIENDS CAUSE YOU TO LIVE A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WHEN YOU ARE AROUND CHRISTIANS @ WORSHIP?

c. TO BE A SERVANT OF OTHERS

i. THIS SHOULD BE AN ATTITUDE THAT WE POSSESS IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP WE ARE IN.

ii. DO WE DESIRE TO BE THE ONE WHO RECEIVES SOMETHING FROM OUR FRIENDS OR THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS TRYING TO SERVE OTHERS?

iii. AS A YOUNG PERSON, YOU NEED TO BEGIN NOW TO MOLD YOURSELF INTO A SERVANT. WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR LIVES AS YOUNGER PEOPLE OF GOD TO BE LIKE OUR LORD WHO IS THE GREATEST OF SERVANTS. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP THOSE WHO AROUND YOU TO KNOW THE LORD AND HIS WORD.

iv. IT IS OFTEN TIMES SO HARD TO BE A SERVANT; BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE WELFARE OF OTHERS INSTEAD OF OURSELVES. WE AS CHRISTIANS FIGHT THE BATTLE EACH AND EVERY DAY TO MAKE GOD’S WILL OUR WILL AND TO PUT SERVICE TO HIM AND OTHERS BEFORE US.

d. BE A JONATHAN

i. -3àAFTER DAVID DEFEATS GOLIATH AND DAVID HAS A CONVERSATION WITH SAUL…

ii. HE WAS UNSELFISH. HE WANTED THE BEST FOR DAVID, EVEN WHEN THAT MEANT THAT DAVID WOULD BE THE NEXT KING OF ISRAEL INSTEAD OF HIMSELF.

iii. HE WAS COMMITTED TO HIS FRIEND. HE DEFENDED DAVID EVEN WHEN IT COULD HAVE MEANT HARM TO HIMSELF () HE WAS TRUSTWORTHY. HE COULD BE COUNTED ON TO ALWAYS BE THERE.

1. IS THAT THE KIND OF FRIEND THAT WE ARE? :24àTHERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

2. DANGERS IN FRIENDSHIPS

a. CORRUPTION OF MORALS

b. DO NOT BE DECEIVED: "BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD MORALS."

i. SOMETIMES WE LIKE TO THINK THAT WE ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE, THINKING THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT IF WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WITH THIS PERSON THEY CAN CHANGE ME.

c. COMPROMISE

i. -16à BE IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD. AS I HAVE ALREADY STATED, IT’S HARD WHEN WE ARE SURROUNDED BY THE WORLD TO NOT HAVE THE MINDSET THAT THE WORLD HAS. WE WANT TO BE ACCEPTED. WE WANT EVERYONE TO LIKE US. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE ARE BEING FAITHFUL TO THE LORD THAT IS MORE THAN LIKELY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO STAND FIRM IN THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL AND NOT COMPROMISE OUR BELIEFS IF IT WILL LEAD TO OUR BEING ACCEPTED BY THOSE WHO ARE AROUND US. WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE CONFORMED TO THE WORLD, BUT TO TRANSFORM OUR MINDS TO DO DELIGHT IN GOD’S WILL, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST MAY BE TO US. IF YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD CAUSES YOU TO LOSE FRIENDS IN THE WORLD, SO BE IT!

ii. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE DO NOT BELONG HERE! OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN!

d. CAUSING OTHERS TO STUMBLE

i. -48à CAUSING OTHERS AND OURSELVES TO STUMBLE

1. BY THE WAY THAT YOU ACT, THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY, THE THINGS THAT YOU WEAR

2. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE OUR ACTIONS CAN AFFECT OTHERS IN A NEGATIVE WAY. HOW WOULD LIKE IT IF SOMETHING YOU DID TURNED SOMEBODY AWAY FROM WANTING TO KNOW THE LORD?

ii. -14à PETER’S HYPOCRISY LED OTHERS AWAY

1. OUR EXAMPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOOD AND FOR BAD

3. IF OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO HEAVEN AND TO HELP OTHERS GET THERE, ARE WE VIEWING OUR FRIENDSHIPS AS A TOOL IN ACHIEVING THAT GOAL?

4. DATING? AM I READY?

a. PREPARE YOURSELF

i. BE A REAL CHRISTIAN!

1. MAKE YOURSELF SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP OTHERS GET TO HEAVEN, ESPECIALLY ONE WHO YOU MAY DATE OR MAY EVEN MARRY.

2. EXAMINE SELF: ARE YOU ABLE AND WILLING TO FULFILL YOUR GOD GIVEN ROLES FOR THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP?

3. YOU NEED TO SHOW YOURSELF AS ONE WHO HAS DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE LORD.

a. THIS BEGINS BEFORE YOU DATE.

b. ”REMEMBER ALSO YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH, BEFORE THE EVIL DAYS COME AND THE YEARS DRAW NEAR”

4. THE SCRIPTURES TELL US OF MANY PRINCIPLES THAT CAN MAKE A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP AND FAMILY

a. SORROW FOR SIN AND A DETERMINATION TO REPENT!

i. WHAT KIND OF REACTIONS DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU WRONG SOMEONE? JUST IMAGINE THAT BEING THE ONE YOU ARE MARRIED TO. WILL YOU BE WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE IT RIGHT WITH YOUR MATE AND WITH THE LORD?

b. SELFLESSNESS: DON’T BE SELFISH. WOULD YOU WANT TO DATE OR EVEN MARRY SOMEONE WHO IS SELFISH AND ONLY THINKS OF HIS OR HER SELF AND WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THEM?

c. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR A WIFE & UNCONDITIONAL RESPECT FOR A HUSBAND?

i. :33à NEVERTHELESS, EACH INDIVIDUAL AMONG YOU ALSO IS TO LOVE HIS OWN WIFE EVEN AS HIMSELF, AND THE WIFE MUST SEE TO IT THAT SHE RESPECTS HER HUSBAND.

1. MENà TO HAVE A LOVE LIKE CHRIST

2. WOMENà A WILLINGNESS TO SUBMIT IN ALL THINGS AS THE CHURCH DOES TO CHRIST

ii. BOTH HIGH STANDARDS. BOTH ARE DIFFICULT.

1. ARE THESE CHARACTER TRAITS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON DEVELOPING?

ii. MAINTAIN YOUR PURITY AND SELF-RESPECT

1. (RICK’S LESSON)

2. VALUE YOURSELF AS ONE WHO BELONGS TO THE LORD

3. LEARN TO DISCERN WHAT THE THINGS YOU MAY SAY OR DO COULD DO TO OTHERS:

a. WILL IT HURT THEM?

b. WILL IT MAKE THEM HAPPY?

c. WILL IT LEAD THEM ASTRAY?

d. IS IT THE WAY I WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED?

5. GOALS FOR DATING RELATIONSHIPS

a. I WANT A SUITABLE MATE

i. THAT CAN HELP YOU GET TO HEAVEN!

ii. THAT WILL FULFILL THEIR GOD-GIVEN ROLES

iii. THAT WILL BE COMMITTED TO YOU AND TO THE LORD

b. I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE LORD

i. YOU’LL NEED HIS HELP! PUT THE LORD AT THE CENTER OF THE RELATIONSHIP.

1. DATING IS MUCH HARDER AS A CHRISTIAN THAN BEING OF THE WORLD. I’VE EXPERIENCED DATING IN THE WORLD AND AS A CHRISTIAN. IT WAS EASY DATING WHEN I WAS IN THE WORLD. I JUST DID WHAT FELT GOOD, I GAVE INTO EVERY DESIRE THAT I HAD, AND I HAD NO STANDARD. BUT AS ONE WHO IS A CHILD OF GOD THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THE STANDARD THAT HE HAS GIVEN US IS HOLINESS. HE WANTS US TO BE NEAR TO HIM AND WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON HIM TO DO SO!

2. WE NEED HIM IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS. WHEN WE LOSE FOCUS ON THE LORD WE CAN VERY EASILY ALLOW OURSELVES TO DO THINGS THAT WE WOULDN’T DO IF WE WERE FOCUSED ON HIM. IT BECOMES VERY EASY SOMETIMES TO TRY TO JUSTIFY THE TEMPTATIONS THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU’RE NOT FOCUSED ON YOUR OWN DESIRES INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE AND SERVE THE ONE WHO YOU ARE DATING. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY DANGERS THAT WE CAN FALL INTO IF WE ARE NOT FOCUSED ON OUR SERVICE TO THE LORD.

3. SERVE TOGETHER: GO TO STUDIES TOGETHER, VISIT SHUT-INS OR WIDOWS TOGETHER, STUDY AND PRAY TOGETHER.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON, BUT IT’S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO BE THE RIGHT PERSON! I’M SURE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHENEVER WE SAY THAT WE WNT TO BE AN ENCOURAGMENT TO THOSE WHO WE ARE CLOSE TO AND TO HELP THEM GET TO HEAVEN, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS THE CASE THAT WE DATING. IF YOU EVER DATE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND THAT WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO BE IN A MARRIAGE, OR IF IT’S THE CASE THAT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS THE DISCOURAGMENT, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE WISE ENOUGH OR THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE DATING WOULD BE WISE ENOUGH TO KICK YOU TO THE CURB!

BUT SAYING THAT, WE NEED TO KNOW THE DANGERS OF A DATING RELATIONSHIP SO WE CAN BE PREPARED TO BE AN ENCOURAGMENT TO THE ONE WE MAY DATE. WE NEED TO KNOW THE DANGERS AND BE READY TO NOT PUT OURSELVES INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE CAN CAUSE OURSELVES AND OTHERS TO STUMBLE.

6. DANGERS IN DATING RELATIONSHIPS

a. SIN (FORNICATION, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IMPURITY) I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THE TALK OF THE SCHOOL AMONG EVERYONE WAS WHO WAS DATING WHO, WHO WAS SLEEPING WITH WHO. RELATIONSHIPS AREN’T VIEWED AS MUCH MORE THAN A WAY TO FULFILL SINFUL DESIRES. BUT THAT IS NOT WHY THE LORD GAVE US THE ABILITY TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX. GIVING IN TO THE MANY SINFUL THINGS THAT YOU SEE THOSE WHO ARE DATING IN THE WORLD CAN IN NO WAY TELL YOU WHETHER THE PERSON YOU ARE DATING IS THE RIGHT ONE TO MARRY. TRUTHFULLY, IT JUST COMPLICATES EVERYTHING. IT CAUSES YOU TO NOT BE ABLE TO EXAMINE THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE DATING RATIONALLY, AND NOT TO MENTION THE OBVIOUS, BUT GIVING INTO LUSTFUL DESIRES ONLY ROBS YOU AND OTHERS OF THEIR PURITY AND SEPARATES YOU FROM GOD.

i. WE MUST REMAIN HOLY!

ii. THE MOST ROMANTIC BOOK IN THE BIBLE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE ONES FOR ME TO READ, THE SONG OF SOLOMON, REPEATS AN INTERESTING WARNING THREE TIMES (; ; ): "I CHARGE YOU, O DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM, DO NOT STIR UP NOR AWAKEN LOVE UNTIL IT PLEASES." YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO STIR UP ROMANTIC DESIRES UNTIL THE RIGHT TIME, THE TIME IN WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN TO FULFILL THOSE DESIRES.

1. WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME? MARRIAGE IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE TIME.

iii. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO FEED THE FLESH. SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN. DON’T ATTEMPT TO FLIRT WITH TEMPTATION. YOU PLAY WITH FIRE YOU’LL GET BURNED. YOU’LL DO THINGS THAT YOU WILL REGRET.

1. LET US BEHAVE PROPERLY AS IN THE DAY, NOT IN CAROUSING AND DRUNKENNESS, NOT IN SEXUAL PROMISCUITY AND SENSUALITY, NOT IN STRIFE AND JEALOUSY. 14 BUT PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH IN REGARD TO ITS LUSTS.

b. MARRYING SOMEONE YOU DON’T KNOW!

i. TAKE IT SLOW!

1. YOU CAN’T GET TO KNOW SOMEONE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. TAKE TIME TO DATE AND GET TO KNOW THE PERSON. SOMEONE COULD SEEM LIKE THE PERFECT PERSON WHEN YOU START DATING, FOR THE OBVIOUS REASON THAT THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD. YOU NEED TO TAKE TIME TO SEE THE OTHER FOOT! I THINK IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT IF YOU ARE DATING SOMEONE AND YOU NEVER SEE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT PERSON THAT IS LESS THAN IDEAL, YOU AREN’T EXAMINING THEM HARD ENOUGH AND YOU DON’T KNOW THEM LIKE YOU SHOULD. YOU NEED TO SEE THE PERSON YOU MAY DATE IN MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS TO SEE HOW THEY MAY REACT.

2. ALSO, MOST WHEN THEY DATE DON’T LET THE PERSON THEY ARE DATING SEE THEM UNLESS THEY ARE @ 100%. BUT IF THAT’S THE CASE, YOU’RE NOT BEING YOURSELF EITHER! BE YOURSELF! DON’T ROB SOMEONE ELSE OF GETTING A CHANCE TO KNOW YOU FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE.

ii. REMEMBER HOW LONG MARRIAGE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST!

a. 4 AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID, "HAVE YOU NOT READ THAT HE WHO CREATED THEM FROM THE BEGINNING MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5 AND SAID, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? 6 "SO THEY ARE NO LONGER TWO, BUT ONE FLESH. WHAT THEREFORE GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN SEPARATE."

i. REMEMBER THAT MARRIAGE IS A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT!

b. "WHEN YOU MAKE A VOW TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU SHALL NOT DELAY TO PAY IT, FOR IT WOULD BE SIN IN YOU, AND THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL SURELY REQUIRE IT OF YOU.

i. THERE ARE PROMISES THAT ARE MADE WHEN YOU GET MARRIED TO THE LORD AND TO THE ONE YOU MARRY THAT THE LORD WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR IF YOU BREAK.

c. IF YOU MARRY THE WRONG PERSON, IT WILL AFFECT YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

d. IT’S A DECISION YOU CAN’T TAKE BACK

2. MAKE SURE YOU’RE BEING THE DISCIPLE THAT YOU NEED TO BE AND MAKE SURE THE PERSON YOU MAY MARRY IS THE SAME AND CAN HELP YOU TO GET TO HEAVEN. YOU AND THE PERSON YOU MAY DATE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE COMMITTED.

c. MARRYING SOMEONE THAT WILL HURT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

i. DID GOD ALLOW HIS PEOPLE TO MARRY FOREIGN PEOPLE?

1. WHY? SO THEIR HEARTS WOULDN’T BE DRAWN AWAY FROM HIM!

a. 1 "WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD BRINGS YOU INTO THE LAND WHERE YOU ARE ENTERING TO POSSESS IT, AND CLEARS AWAY MANY NATIONS BEFORE YOU, THE HITTITES AND THE GIRGASHITES AND THE AMORITES AND THE CANAANITES AND THE PERIZZITES AND THE HIVITES AND THE JEBUSITES, SEVEN NATIONS GREATER AND STRONGER THAN YOU, 2 AND WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD DELIVERS THEM BEFORE YOU AND YOU DEFEAT THEM, THEN YOU SHALL UTTERLY DESTROY THEM. YOU SHALL MAKE NO COVENANT WITH THEM AND SHOW NO FAVOR TO THEM. 3 "FURTHERMORE, YOU SHALL NOT INTERMARRY WITH THEM; YOU SHALL NOT GIVE YOUR DAUGHTERS TO THEIR SONS, NOR SHALL YOU TAKE THEIR DAUGHTERS FOR YOUR SONS. 4 "FOR THEY WILL TURN YOUR SONS AWAY FROM FOLLOWING ME TO SERVE OTHER GODS; THEN THE ANGER OF THE LORD WILL BE KINDLED AGAINST YOU AND HE WILL QUICKLY DESTROY YOU.

Serving the Lord in Relationships

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