Interpersonal relationships are fragile and must be painstakingly nurtured. People are liable to argue and fight amongst themselves for the sake of interests at any moment. Some even become enemies. Can you talk about how people can get along with each other?

March 29, 2021

Relevant Words of God:

In the dispositions of normal people there is no crookedness or deceitfulness, people have a normal relationship with each other, they do not stand alone, and their lives are neither mediocre nor decadent. So, too, is God exalted among all; His words permeate among man, people live in peace with one another and under the care and protection of God, the earth is filled with harmony, without the interference of Satan, and the glory of God holds the utmost importance among man. Such people are like angels: pure, vibrant, never complaining about God, and devoting all their efforts solely to God’s glory on earth.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Interpretations of the Mysteries of “God’s Words to the Entire Universe”, Chapter 16

If you do not have a normal relationship with God, then no matter what you do to maintain your relationships with other people, no matter how hard you work or how much energy you exert, it will all just pertain to a human philosophy for living. You are maintaining your position among people through a human perspective and a human philosophy so that people will praise you, but you are not following the word of God to establish normal relationships with people. If you do not focus on your relationships with people but maintain a normal relationship with God, if you are willing to give your heart to God and learn to obey Him, then naturally your relationships with all people will become normal. This way, these relationships are not established in the flesh, but on the foundation of God’s love. There are almost no fleshly interactions, but in the spirit there is fellowship, mutual love, mutual comfort, and provision for one another. This is all done on the foundation of a heart that satisfies God. These relationships are not maintained by relying on a human philosophy for living, but are formed very naturally through carrying a burden for God. It does not require man-made effort. You need only practice according to God’s word principle. Are you willing to be considerate of the will of God? Are you willing to be a person who is “without reason” before God? Are you willing to completely give your heart to God and to disregard your position among people? Of all the people you have contact with, with whom do you have the best relationships? With whom do you have the worst relationships? Are your relationships with people normal? Do you treat all people equally? Are your relationships with others maintained according to your philosophy for living, or are they built on the foundation of God’s love? When a person does not give their heart to God, then their spirit becomes obtuse, numb and unconscious. This kind of person will never understand God’s words and will never have a normal relationship with God; this kind of person’s disposition will never be changed.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. It Is Very Important to Establish a Normal Relationship With God

A normal relationship between people is established on the foundation of giving their hearts to God, and not through human effort. Without God in their hearts, interpersonal relationships between people are merely relationships of the flesh. They are not normal, but rather, are an abandonment to lust. They are relationships that God detests, that He loathes. If you say that your spirit has been moved, but you always want to have fellowship with people who you like, with whomever you think highly of, and if another person is seeking but you do not like them, even hold a bias against them and will not engage with them, this is more proof that you are subject to your emotions and you do not have a normal relationship with God at all. You are attempting to deceive God and cover up your own ugliness. Even if you can share some understanding yet you carry wrong intentions, then everything you do is good only by human standards. God will not praise you—you are acting according to the flesh, not according to God’s burden. If you are able to quiet your heart in front of God and have normal interactions with all those who love God, only then are you fit for God’s use. This way, no matter how you associate with others, it will not be according to a philosophy for living, but it will be before God, living in a way that is considerate of His burden. How many people like this are there amongst you? Are your relationships with others really normal? On what foundation are they built? How many philosophies for living are there within you? Have they been cast off? If your heart cannot completely turn to God, then you are not of God—you come from Satan, and you will be returned to Satan in the end. You are not worthy of being one of God’s people. All of this requires your careful consideration.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. It Is Very Important to Establish a Normal Relationship With God

When your relationship with God has become normal, then you will also have normal relationships with people. Everything is built on the foundation of God’s words. Eat and drink the words of God, then put God’s requirements into practice, correct your views, and avoid doing anything to resist God or disturb the church. Do nothing that does not benefit the lives of your brothers and sisters, say nothing that is unhelpful to others, and do nothing shameful. Be just and honorable in everything you do and ensure that your every action is presentable before God. Although the flesh may sometimes be weak, you must be able to put the interests of God’s family first, without greed for personal profit, and you must be able to act righteously. If you can practice in this way, then your relationship with God will be normal.

In everything you do, you must examine whether your intentions are correct. If you are able to act according to the requirements of God, then your relationship with God is normal. This is the minimum standard. Look into your intentions, and if you find that incorrect intentions have arisen, be able to turn your back on them and act according to the words of God; thus will you become someone who is right before God, which in turn demonstrates that your relationship with God is normal, and that all that you do is for God’s sake, not your own. In all you do and all you say, be able to set your heart right and be righteous in your actions, and do not be led by your emotions, nor act according to your own will. These are principles by which believers in God must conduct themselves.

—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. How Is Your Relationship With God?

Regardless of the group you are in, if you are able to overcome envy, disputes, mockery, and belittling that exist between people, and the various kinds of hurtfulness and techniques that people employ in their dealings with each other, if you are able to recognize them, and not be governed by these things, and approach them correctly, without falling back on hot-bloodedness, naturalness, or a corrupt satanic disposition, then your relationships with other people will become normal, and you will be able, on the whole, to get along harmoniously with others. If you can get along harmoniously with the average person, and not be controlled or disturbed by any person, matter, or thing when you are with other people, then your state will be normal, and you will live before God. Wherever there are people, there will be disputes. If you do not live by the truth when there are disputes, you will be drawn into them. What do disputes involve? Discord, envy, hate, contempt, competitiveness, passing judgment on one another, vying with one another for high positions, comparing gifts, capabilities, figures, beauty, caliber, status, reputation, roles, whose speech carries more weight, who is more useful, and who is stronger. You spend all day comparing yourself to others in these things, caught up in these disputes, incapable of a normal spiritual life, and of being at normal peace before God. In your heart, you will often be caught up in these disputes, in fights and quarrels, which will not hurt you alone, but others, too, and thus you will never be able to come before God. When someone says something unkind to you, you will become negative; when someone is more gifted than you, has a higher caliber than you, and has a quicker mind than you, you feel uncomfortable, and you wish to contest with them. What a pitiable, exhausting, painful way to live, always to be enmeshed in these states. And does this not interfere with the spiritual life? If you cannot find your way out of this, your life will often suffer loss.

—“The Most Fundamental Principle for the Practice of Entering Truth Reality” in Records of Christ’s Talks

If two people want to get along well, they must open their hearts to each other; this is even more necessary between people who would work in harmony together. Sometimes, when two people interact, their personalities clash, or their family environments, backgrounds or economic conditions do not match. Yet if those two people can open their hearts to each other and be entirely open about their issues, and communicate without any lies or deceit, and are able to show their hearts to each other, then, in this way, they will be able to become genuine friends, which means to become intimate friends. Perhaps, when the other person has a difficulty, they will look for you and no one else. Even if you give them a telling off, they know you speak truly, because they know you are an honest person with a sincere heart. Can you be such people? Are you such people? If not, then you are not honest people. When you interact with others, you must first have them perceive your true heart and sincerity. If, in speaking and making contact and working together with others, someone’s words are perfunctory, grandiloquent, pleasantries, flattery, irresponsible, and imaginary, or if they simply speak to seek the other’s favor, then their words lack all credibility, and they are not sincere in the least. This is their mode of interaction with others, no matter who those others are. Does such a person have an honest heart? This is not an honest person.

—“Only by Being Honest Can One Live Out a True Human Likeness” in Records of Christ’s Talks

People have been too deeply corrupted by Satan, and they lack any understanding of the truth, so it is necessary to practice tolerance of all manner of people—and what have My many years of tolerance cost Me? I tolerate all; I am tolerant to all, and never harsh; I confer and fellowship with people, gently directing the conversation, making them aware, making them understand the reason behind things, and I behave thus toward all. If nothing works, no matter what I say, I let them go. Do not hold yourself in such high regard that when others do not heed you, you are affronted and feel you have suffered some great indignity. It does not matter. The crucial thing is that whatever you do, you do it before God; you must give account of yourself to God. Everything you do must be of benefit to others. To you, this might seem a slightly onerous requirement, but that is because people lack that humanity and stature. Above all, you must consider how to maintain a normal state as you live before God. What must you do when naturalness and hot-bloodedness are about to burst forth? Hurry before God and call out His name. When you call out His name, you will feel your anger and resentment disappear and dissipate. Where do they go? Why are you suddenly unable to recall the strange thoughts and theories of your mind? What is going on? God clears away the things Satan did, and the justifications and hot-blooded things in the mind of man, giving you peace and joy, placating your heart a bit at a time, and you say to yourself: “How could I have been so impulsive just now? How could I have been so stupid? So foolish? What did it matter? I was so angry—it’s a good thing I called out to God and He helped me and gave me strength; God was really there, at my back. He protected me and stopped me from sinning against Him. I can truly feel His grace.” God’s tolerance, love and compassion are without limit, and people must learn to come before God to ask for them and receive them. As long as you have faith and sincerity, God will give these things to you, and help you achieve them all. A human being cannot do such things, but God can. So, before doing anything, you must think first whether it is truly necessary. If you have not yet thought it through, make sure you are at peace. Before everything you do, before your hot-bloodedness bursts forth, you must calm yourself, call out God’s name, and think about whether what you are doing is in accordance with His will; if what you are doing is unsatisfactory to God, He will help you tame your hot-bloodedness, little by little, and sort the situation out. Will this be of benefit to you? If people are too intractable when they are together, it will be difficult for them to return to the earliest state of their relationship, so, when you are about to vent, when naturalness and hot-bloodedness are about to burst forth from you, and when this naturalness and hot-bloodedness are liable to hurt others, you had better think a while, and be sure to pray more to God. The brothers and sisters of the church, or members of your family—you have to get along with all of them. This is the minimum requirement. When one has sorted out these relationships, their stature will have matured, and they will truly be capable of taking tasks on and bearing responsibility, and they will be able to accept God’s commission.

—“The Most Fundamental Principle for the Practice of Entering Truth Reality” in Records of Christ’s Talks