I witnessed a rather surprising incident in a family. A mother asked her 3-year-old daughter to go call her Dad. As she went to do that, I heard her calling him; “Babe, mum is calling you.” Why, babe? I wondered. I later realised that that’s what the mum calls the Dad. But is the Dad truly the daughter’s babe?
Friend, you need to know who people are to you (1 Samuel 18:1-4). The same people would mean different things to different people. It is your duty to discern people and relate with them accordingly. This is what we call the law of difference (2 Kings 6:21, 13:14). Failure to understand differences is the reason for relationship mismanagement.
When you mismanage relationships, you mismanage destiny (Proverbs 18:24). Destiny is packaged in the capsules of time and relationships. What you do with time and what you do with relationships would significantly determine and affect your outcomes in life. You need to constantly pray for wisdom and discernment to relate with people (2 Corinthians 5:16).
Don’t relate with people based on how others relate with them (2 Kings 2:1-5). It is a sign of immaturity and lack of discernment. That’s the case with the young girl in our opening story. She called her Dad what her mum calls him. What about you? Are you calling people or relating with them based on how others relate with them (John 6:66-69)?
You would notice that Jesus seemed not to care about what people outside called him. He wanted to know what his own disciples call him (Matthew 16:13-18). He wanted to know if they were operating by divine revelation or by human judgement. Like Peter, you don’t know who people are until you know what God calls them (Acts 9:13-15).
What does God call your spouse (1 Peter 3:7)? What does God call your pastor? Who is he to you? To others, he may just be their pastor, but to you, he is your destiny father and coach. Like David and Jonathan, some friends are not just friends. They are destiny company. Don’t treat them casually. Know what God has said and He’s saying concerning them (2 Corinthians 5:17). Relate based on revelation, not sentiments or emotions.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria