Are you a consumer or investor? | Jeff Kemp

Is it time for a reminder of what vitalizes and what corrodes friendship and marriage? Take a minute and align yourself with the Relationship Investor Paradigm.

Game Plan:

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13, NLT

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” [Family sticks together in all kinds of weather.] Proverbs 17:17, NLT

Time Out:

Jesus loves in a way that initiates, perseveres and always does what’s best for us…He invests!

Have you been doing more consuming or investing lately? In relationships, not finances! Do you wait for people to apologize to you first? Do you have expectations of him or her that you don’t communicate? Is there some bitterness or resentment growing?

A consumer in relationships is focused on what treatment I’m going to get. The consumer is asking, “Who is going to be kind to me?”

Ask yourself, “Have I been long-term or short-term oriented in my marriage, relationship, or friendships lately?”

Go Deep:

As you read those questions…you realized that there is someone you want to apologize to. Follow through. Make an investment in them and the relationship. As a relationship investor, you may say something like:

“Hey, I’ve not valued you as well as I want to I was wrong.” “I’m sorry.” “Will you forgive me?” “Going forward, how can I encourage and help you?”

How about this? Every morning, remind yourself and ask God to help you be an investor, not a consumer. I think you’ll find that the investment will multiply