1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – “Love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not behave rudely, it does not seek its own interests, it is not irritable, it does not suspect evil; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

In a world where relationships are often guided by selfishness, haste, and personal interests, God’s Word presents a higher standard: true love. And it is this love, described in 1 Corinthians 13, that should be the foundation of every relationship that desires to honour God.

Relationships that glorify the Lord are not sustained solely by emotions, attraction, or affinity… On the contrary, they are marked by patience, humility, and forgiveness. Honouring God in our relationships means reflecting the character of Christ in the way we treat others, whether in dating, marriage, friendship, or even in daily interaction with brothers and sisters in the church.

John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This love is not selfish or manipulative. It does not hurt, play with feelings, or abandon when things get difficult. On the contrary: it suffers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. It is a love that edify, that prays for others, that forgives, that cares with the fear of God. Where this love reigns, there is room for growth and for the presence of God.

Ephesians 4:2-3 – “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, striving earnestly to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Honouring God in relationships also involves choices: fleeing from impurity, upholding truth, respecting boundaries, preserving fellowship, and seeking the Father’s will together. Anything that does not promote holiness, respect, and peace must be re-evaluated; our attitudes must always reflect Jesus.

If what we experience with others brings us closer to God, makes us more humble, more pure, more like Christ, then that relationship honours God. But if it distances us from His presence, His Word and His peace, it is time to stop and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Holy relationships are not perfect, but they are the fruits of a daily choice to love as Jesus loved. And where there is true love, God dwells.