How to Have Great Relationships

Christianity is a relationship religion, and the Bible has a lot to say about how to have great friendships. Scripture says that God himself is love; so the closer we are to him, the more loving we will become. Jesus gives us the ultimate example of how to love, connect, and have deep relationships.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. [19] We love each other because he loved us first.

1 John 4:16,19 NLT

Check out this episode of Scripture Playlists to learn how to have the humility and love we need to build great relationships like Jesus did.

Read along as you listen:

1 John 4:16,19 NLT
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. [19] We love each other because he loved us first.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [6] It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

John 15:13 NLT
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Matthew 7:12 NCV
“Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.

Philippians 2:3-5 NCV
[3] When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. [4] Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. [5] In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. [10] If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. [11] Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? [12] A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Proverbs 17:9 NLT
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

Proverbs 16:28 NLT
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

James 5:9 Voice
Brothers and sisters, don’t waste your breath complaining about one another. If you judge others, you will be judged yourself. Be very careful! You will face the one true Judge who is right outside the door.

Proverbs 3:3-6 Voice
Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth; engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck; meditate on them so they are written upon your heart. [4] In this way, you will win the favor of God and others, and they will think well of you. [5] Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions.  [6] Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.

Proverbs 12:15 TLB
A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others.

Matthew 5:14 MSG
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Romans 12:16 ERV
Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.

Romans 13:8 MSG
Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

Colossians 3:9-10 NIV
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Galatians 5:25-26 NCV
We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit. [26] We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other.

Colossians 3:12-14 NLT
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. [13] Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

James 3:17 ERV
But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest.

1 Peter 4:8 NLT
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.