Relationships in the Bible: 9 Scriptures to Consider

We live in a hyper-connected age, yet we feel lonelier than ever before. “The number of Americans with no close friends has tripled since 1985” (Forbes). Because of the Internet, we can experience limitless virtual “connection,” but that doesn’t replace real-life interaction.

Social relationships, whether with family or friends, play a vital role in our well-being. Healthy relationships form the foundation for a healthy life. As believers in Christ, we benefit from being part of his body, the church, as well as our roles as parents, children, siblings, and friends.

Relationships in the Bible: 9 Scriptures to Consider

Relationships are good for us, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. What can we learn about relationships in the Bible? Here are nine Bible verses about relationships.

1. Support in Difficult Times

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17

This proverb underlines the value of relationships during hard times in life. We all experience trouble and suffering. A good friend is supportive through the ups and downs.

Consider a difficult time you went through in the past. Who provided support for you during that time. How can you extend that same kindness to someone else who is suffering?

2. Serving Those Around Us

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Galatians 5:13-14

What makes Christian relationships different from worldly relationships? We are called to be marked by servant-heartedness. We don’t live self-oriented lifestyles, looking to see what we can get from others to benefit ourselves. Instead, we seek to bless and serve others, loving unselfishly and putting our sinful desires to death.

It can take a lifetime to grow into a mature, humble person who puts others’ needs first. It requires wisdom to steward our health, time, and resources while caring for others as God has called us. Yet through it all, we know God’s standard and continue pursuing love.

3. Choosing Friends Wisely

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. – Proverbs 13:20

Although we are called to treat everyone with courtesy (Titus 3:2), we are not called to associate with everyone on an intimate level. We can choose who we allow to be close to us, and we are wise to choose carefully.

Don’t think you can associate with foolish people on a close, personal level and emerge unscathed. (This also applies to the content you are consuming through entertainment and social media!)

Loving others doesn’t mean allowing them to infiltrate your life by condoning their sin or succumbing to poor influences.

4. Putting on Love

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. – Colossians 3:12-14

In this passage of Scripture on relationships, Paul urges the believers in Colossae to “put off” the works of the flesh, or sinful nature, and “put on” the attributes of the Spirit. In other words, we will struggle with sin as believers, but by God’s grace, we must deliberately get rid of those tendencies and “get dressed in the morning” with the attributes of love.

We must choose to treat other people with kindness, patience, and gentleness. We won’t always feel kind or gentle, but by remembering how God has forgiven our sins, we can interact with others with humility.

5. The Dedication of Fellowship

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:10

Christian love takes sacrifice and commitment. It requires dedication over the long haul. There will be ups and downs, but no matter what, we have to be committed to the most important interpersonal command in Scripture: loving our neighbor.

And the first descriptor Paul uses for Christian behavior, after the command love, is “honor.” To honor is to treat someone with respect and esteem.

Yes, as believers we can honor ourselves because God has made us in his image. But, he wants us to trust him to take care of us, and to put others above ourselves. This can be scary! Yet, a heart of humility is always rewarding in the end (James 3:17-18).

6. A Life of Sacrifice

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:16-18

We live in a consumeristic, entitled society—one of the richest societies in the history of civilization (Forbes). It may not always seem that way since many Americans live paycheck to paycheck (CNBC) and struggle to make ends meet financially; but, we cannot forget the needs of people who don’t have the resources we do, especially other believers.

Jesus calls us to live sacrificially in light of what he has done for us. How can we lay down our attitudes of greed, discontentment, and entitlement in order to consider how to bless other people? How can we pay off debt, reduce our spending, or change our lifestyle so we can give more and spend less?

These Bible verses about relationships remind us that no matter what we say, our love for others will be seen in what we actually do.

7. Avoiding Arguments

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. – Proverbs 26:21

Although conflict happens in every relationship, we don’t have to argue in order to solve it. We should avoid provoking others deliberately, or responding in kind to foolish statements or accusations.

It takes humility to rise above the temptation to quarrel or argue, but as we grow in wisdom and grace, we can avoid getting caught up in being quarrelsome (argumentative, combative, hostile, or belligerent).

Strife is defined as “angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues.” God does not want us to stoop to anger or bitterness when there is disagreement. Pray about how you can humbly and wisely disagree with others, rather than becoming angry.

8. Family Relationships

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. – Colossians 3:15-21

In each of these Bible verses for couples, parents, and children, we can see how we are all called to live with respect and responsibility in our relationships at home:

• Wives should willingly accept their husband’s leadership in a way that honors God.
• Husbands should prioritize gentleness and self-sacrifice in relation to their wives.
• Children should honor their parents’ authority.
• Parents should be sure not to provoke their children, shame them, or discourage them as they bring them up in a godly environment.

9. A Humble Heart

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4

Again, the world takes a completely different approach to this topic! Everything can be done out of selfish ambition. But we are not to be self-preserving; this comes back to trusting the Lord to care for us instead of frantically looking out for number one (which usually ends up being self-defeating in the long run anyway).

Instead, we are to deliberately take the lower position, keeping others’ needs and well-being in mind, instead of making ourselves the focus. As we live in humility and love, God will bless our efforts and empower us to persevere by his grace.

Christian Counseling for Relationship Issues

If you’re looking for a professional counselor to help you navigate relationship issues, don’t hesitate to contact one of the Christian relationship counselors listed in our counselor directory or call our office directly.