“The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.” ~ Pearl S. Buck
Loneliness is one of the most empty and hopeless feelings anyone can have. God said very early on the “it’s not good for man to be alone.” Living life to its fullest is a group project. We are all in this together. Relationships matter. They can build us up and make us better, or they can pull us down and make us bitter. The health of your relationships has a lot to do with your sense of fulfillment in life. Maintaining healthy relationships however can be challenging. Here’s a passage that provides some key guidelines for growing and maintaining healthy relationships.
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)
Which of your relationships require a little more compassion and kindness? How are you doing in the areas of humility, gentleness and patience? Who do you need to bear with just a little bit longer and extend the very forgiveness to them that Jesus granted to you? Developing healthy relationships is never easy. People are complex individually and even more so as a group, and the dynamics are ever changing. It’s not uncommon for a team member to be unintentionally overlooked and for them to feel isolated.
As a Christian leader, you have the responsibility to positively influence others in the context of healthy relationships. No one on your team should ever feel lonely. This is no simple task. Healthy relationships however, are essential to having a healthy organization. Business expert and author Patrick Lencioni believes that organizational health is the number one factor in giving you the best advantage in the marketplace. Healthy organizations are noticeably more positive, productive and profitable than those who are relationally unhealthy.
According to Paul, love is “the perfect bond of unity.” Genuine love is the glue that holds relationships together, even in the workplace. We love because He first loved us. When we show love for others, we are reflecting the very nature of God to them.
On occasion, you as the leader may even feel lonely. This can especially be true when tough decisions have to be made. In those moments, remember Jesus said He will never leave you or forsake you. No one should ever feel lonely in their workplace, including you. Simply rest in God’s love for you and those on your team, and you’ll realize you are never really alone.