A recent poll found a worrying statistic that nearly 1 in 10 people do not have a single close friend. Previous studies have linked loneliness to a range of health problems, from high blood pressure and a weakened immune system to a greater risk of depression, heart attack and strokes. The evidence is clear – people who live in healthy relationships are healthier. Family life is key to the health of our communities and society as a whole. God’s intention in creating mankind was that we would be in relationship with Him and with one another. He created family and community. This is his plan and design for us. I’m sure we would all agree that the foundation of our family relationships is love. Jesus’ teaching was radical – he told us not just to love those close to us, but to love our enemies. What a difference this kind of love would make in our world today! But how can we love like this? This kind of love is not natural – it is spiritual. We can only give this unconditional love when we have experienced it ourselves and the only person who loves perfectly is God. The Bible tells us that God loves us so much that even though we didn’t want anything to do with him, he allowed his only son Jesus to die, so that he could be friends with us. That’s true love. This is the love that will transform our lives and relationships.
Wendy Hill
King’s Lynn Christian Fellowship
