You Can’t Connect If You Don’t Commit - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - August 27, 2023
A deep and lasting connection in a relationship requires commitment, not just love or interest, as Pastor Rick Warren shares his personal experience of cultivating a strong marriage despite feeling like giving up. By prioritizing quality over quantity, individuals can build meaningful friendships that will be there for them when they need it most.
You Can’t Connect If You Don’t Commit By Rick Warren
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)
Good relationships don’t happen by accident. They take cultivation, work, and a lot of time. They take commitment!
I can’t count the number of times my wife Kay and I have felt like walking out of our marriage, particularly in the early years. We often thought, “This is not worth it. We’re so different. This marriage will never work.”
But we didn’t walk out. Why? Because we’d made a commitment. We took a vow—“till death do us part”—not just to each other but also to God. So we said, “We’re going to keep this commitment even if it kills us.” And it nearly did!
There have been times in our marriage when the only thing keeping us together was that commitment—not love or interest but simply the commitment we made to God. I’m so glad we did not give up. Today, my wife is my best friend, and I cannot imagine my life without her.
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:24, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (ESV).
Did you know that your socializing can keep you from having deep relationships? You can be so busy networking and making acquaintances that you never invest the time, energy, and effort it takes to cultivate the deep, satisfying intimacy of a good friend or spouse. It’s not wrong to have a lot of acquaintances, but they can keep you so busy that you don’t develop any vital, close relationships.
You don’t need a lot of friends to make it in this world, but you do need a few good ones. So focus on quality, not quantity. Your acquaintances—your hundreds of “friends” on social media—aren’t necessarily going to be there when you need them. But the friends you are truly connected and committed to will be there.
Every important, close connection begins with a commitment. If you want to get beyond shallow, superficial relationships, you’ve got to be willing to stick with it.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Your Gift Brings Hope to the World
Thank you for helping restore broken hearts with the hope of Jesus!
I am so grateful to be on mission with you! Your gift today is a bold statement that you want to be a light in this world and make an eternal impact for Jesus Christ.
As thanks for your gift, we’re excited to send you the "Hope Is Born: A Christmas Scripture Collection" Scripture cards. This set of 52 beautifully designed cards brings the joy of the season to life, each sharing a powerful verse celebrating the hope and wonder of Jesus’ birth.
Request yours below when you give, and thank you for going on mission to reach our world with the love of Jesus!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of “current offer” materials you received from Daily Hope.
_638979300394061748.webp)
