Conversations are Key to Relationships
Conversations between human beings whether they are face to
face or social media are valuable for creating a bridge. A bridge allows two separate people to come
together and maybe create something simple or something sensational all because
they communicated. The number seven in
biblical numerology has to do with completeness and perfection, but that is not
the case here. There are a lot more than
7, but getting through seven is probably enough for the time being. Let’s see.
Number 1: Maintain a Healthy Heart
Physically, of course, that is really helpful for
conversation unless it is conversation with a cardiologist. For this process it is the inner person, the
essential operational soul of the individual.
The real you and me. We are
bodies with spirits we are spirit beings with temporary bods. Maintain a healthy heart right down in the
core. Jesus said it this way:
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a
good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil
heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45 (NLT)
Conversations come out of our mouths and sometimes our
brains are engaged in them as well, but Jesus says the heart is the source of
what you and I say. Think about it. Sometimes that would be good and
hmmm…sometimes not so much. It would be
key to keep a healthy heart so that what comes out is good. How can that be done?
David in Psalm 19:14 offers some help with that.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
The person who keeps God first and seeks to think on and
about those things that please God will alter their heart from evil to
good. That kind of meditation effects
the words of the mouth because they are flowing from what is in the heart.
Starting with a healthy heart and good words conversations
can begin to build in a whole new way.
Number 2: Build on Blessings
Beginning with a healthy heart the approach to other people
can be quite different. Jesus challenges
His followers with this statement: Bless those who curse you, pray for those
who mistreat you.
Luke 6:28 (HCSB)
Luke 6:28 (HCSB)
We are not equipped naturally to do that. It takes a supernatural infusion of the
Spirit of God to accomplish such a thing.
That is what is happening in our healthy hearts. We can with God’s enablement bless those who
curse us. It is better than the rotten attitude
we often run around with that is filled with contempt and a readiness to snap
at others. Let it go. The wisdom of Solomon says it is a bad deal
to show contempt, and if you aren’t quite ready to bless at least keep
quiet.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor
lacks sense, but a man with understanding keeps silent.
Proverbs 11:12 (HCSB)
Proverbs 11:12 (HCSB)
Beginning with a healthy heart and an attitude tuned to
bless rather than curse we are moving forward in building conversation.
Number 3: Establish Limits
Limits to good things is good. Enjoying the sun is great, but too much sun
and you get burned. There is a time to say,
“Enough said.” Jesus knew His disciples
needed what He had to say, but was wise and loving enough to stop talking. He told them they couldn’t handle it all
right then so they would get more later.
What about us? Sometimes we just
keep on talking. What is the problem
with that? According to Proverbs it can
lead to sin. Sin is taking a turn,
getting off track, missing the target, keeping God out and it doesn’t help
build bridges. The solution seems to
establish limits.
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth
shut. Proverbs 10:19
A truly wise person uses few words; a person with
understanding is even-tempered. Proverbs 17:27 (NLT)
It may require practice for those who use a lot of
words. They may have to practice being
focused on the reason for the conversation and the good it will bring the other
person. It may require a set limit of 2
paragraphs worth of information. Having
a set limit forces conscious thought as to the point and how to make it.
Number 4: Spotlight the Other Person
This is far from being a new idea. But it is worth revisiting. A famous passage on love in 1 Corinthians is
surrounded on both sides by Paul dealing with spiritual realities and human
relationships. If you will allow me some
latitude in a Bible study let’s look at 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul deals with
tongues and prophecy.
First, it is noted that “A person who speaks in tongues is
strengthened personally” (v. 4). Let us
look at the tongues speaker not in a spiritual gift sense but just as a person
in a conversation who is talking about their interests, activities and
thoughts. That person is strengthened
personally, but there isn’t much love of the other person in that. By comparison in verse 4 there is the one who
speaks a word of prophecy and strengthens the whole group. The “prophecy” is
not telling the future, but according to verse 3 does this: But one who prophesies strengthens others,
encourages them, and comforts them. That is part of spotlighting the other
person. In my conversation I have the
opportunity to focus on me or how to strengthen, encourage and comfort
others. Proverbs points us away from
ourselves in our conversation.
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger,
not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2 (NLT)
For people who are at ease in conversation and those who are
not it is good to spotlight the other person.
Engaging another human being in conversation may be the very thing God
desires you to do at that time. Here are
some starters to consider.
Ask them about their hobbies or a book they’ve read or a
movie they like. Try to find common
ground. You might ask their advice on
something or offer a recommendation on a restaurant or ask them for one. Find something to complement. Enter into their world with confidence,
honesty and real interest.
Watch what happens when you practice spotlight the other
person.
Number 5: Manage a Magnetic Field
Magnets are made up of positive and negative fields. Put one way two magnets brought together will
push one another apart. Turned around
the two magnets attract and have a bond.
Each of us have to manage a magnetic field so that we do more bonding
and less repelling.
Try this one on to see how it works.
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it
separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
Forgiveness brings a bond. The person who is holding on to something someone did to them repels. Dwelling on the failure and repeating it over and over again breaks down closeness. Have you ever been in a heated discussion and somehow the current situation opens the door to all the hurts you have ever caused and all the failures you have brought into the relationship since day one? Yeah, that separates close friends. Managing the magnetic field means turning that around. Bonding not repelling.
Another way to repel and not bond is to assume things
without really listening to what is really going on.
Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful
and foolish. Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)
Here is another common area that needs to be turned
around.
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers
flare. Proverbs 15:1
Operating in the flesh and pouring out anger is an all
American thing to do. It is applauded
among many and shows spirit. It also
repels. In a conversation few bridges
are built with parties being repelled. A
gentle answer takes anger in a whole new direction and bonding is
possible. A whole lot more can be accomplished
without tempers flaring than with them.
Managing a magnetic field helps build conversations.
Number 6: Survey the Landscape
If you are walking across a cactus infested desert you want
more than flip flops and shorts. If you
are on Miami Beach you don’t want to be wrapped in a parka. Knowing the scene helps.
In a conversation it is important to know the setting, the
need, the goal, the person, the time. If
done right the very words you speak may bring life to another person and at the
same time please God.
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in
right circumstances. Proverbs 25:11 (NASB)
Even a great steak served out of a trash can leaves a lot to
be desired. But served with the right
settings it is magnificent. And so are
the words properly spoken in a conversation.
They are beautiful.
Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the
right thing at the right time! Proverbs 15:23 (NLT)
With a little effort thinking up times when I have said the
wrong thing can be brought to mind and the same yuk emotions come with
them. But saying the right thing at the
right time…how great.
Having surveyed the landscape in a conversation you will
have an idea of how to move it forward.
And you can do so in a loving and powerful way by asking follow up
questions.
Often the default method is to have the other person serve
like a tennis ball from their side of the court. It may be a statement or a story about their
life. The story is served and the person
on the other side waits then grabs the ball and runs with it without returning
it back to the other side of the net.
Hogging the ball isn’t good form and neither is stealing the story or
hogging the conversation.
To change the default practice asking follow up
questions. Determine not to steal the
ball, but to enjoy the volley and build up the relationship. Set a minimum of three questions for follow
up. Focus on your follow up questions
and not on your own life story to bounce back with. Don’t stop asking questions until you have
gone three deep. Listen to each response
and build on it. Don’t rush past or
hurry to something that focuses on you.
Surveying the landscape in your conversations will build
deeper and wider.
Number 7: Speak with Wisdom
People are broken.
All over the world broken people lash out in brokenness at others and
break some more. It seems healing would
be better than brokenness. The words of
the wise bring healing.
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise
bring healing. Proverbs 12:18 (NLT)
Consider how to bring healing into the lives of the people
you have the privilege of sharing air with on this planet. Your words.
Use them. Use them to bring
healing. In contrast to the “I told that
guy!” or “I straightened her out!” approach God has another plan. His plan is good for the soul and the body.
Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for
the body. Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)
Consider the words you have enjoyed receiving. Some words are just noise, but there are some
that are just right and they penetrate and invigorate. As you look for things to say, speak kind
words like honey.
7 Incredible Biblical Conversation Builders
That’s it. Something
to chew on. May our conversations bless
the socks off those we come in contact with from this day forward.
