Introduction

The failure of relationships is mainly because of the nature of those who are in those relationships. In other words, the problem is you and me. The road to forever is froth with all kinds of dangers because it involves people. Without God’s help, relationships will fail eventually. Whenever relationships do succeed, it is simply because of God’s grace and mercy. But, even if we are good people (i.e., with good intentions and good character), there are other enemies of relationships that can undermine our sincere efforts to make our relationships work.

Three Other Enemies of Relationships

1. The disordered attachments of the world. (1 John 2:15-17) All our relationships occur in this world. Therefore, all relationships can and are usually influenced by the disordered attachments of this world. Disordered attachments are those created things that we become attached to (i.e., love) instead of God. They may be good or bad, but because we love them more than we love God, they become our idols. Consequently, they become cancerous cells that destroy our relationships.
2. The powerful forces of evil in the world. (Eph 6:10-12) There are evil structures and systems in the world that can and will destroy relationships. They may not be obvious to us. They may even appear as “good” to us and to others. For example, most workplaces value performance and production more than healthy relationships. Competition and jealousy permeate various systems and they influence the mindsets of those who are part of such systems. Media and technology can also become tools for propagating sinful beliefs and ways that destroy relationships.
3. The influence of worldliness in the church. (1 Cor 3:1-3; James 3:13-16; 4:1-3; 1 Cor 15:33-34) Unfortunately, the church is not immune to all the disordered attachments and powerful evil forces in the world. Sometimes, these enemies of relationships exist in the church as well. When the leaders or members do not grow in their spiritual lives, they become worldly also. Thus, even Christians themselves can become the tools of Satan for hurting one another. The recent scandals involving prominent church leaders as well as the common occurrence of church splits are proofs that worldliness exists in the church today.

Conclusion

1. Main Idea: “Building relationships requires overcoming the enemies of relationships.”
2. The road to forever is a battlefield. There are enemies everywhere.
3. Trying to succeed in relationships apart from God is a suicide mission.

Discussion

1. Why is it important to know about the other enemies of relationships?
2. What happens when we disregard the existence of these enemies?
3. How will you apply what you have learned in this sermon?