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Since all men were created social creatures.
What it means to be a human being is found only in the expression of the
interaction of at least two people. In reality, an individual actually comes
to know and to understand himself only as he see himself reflected in the
lives of other people. The reflections that come back to him from the people
with whom he is interacting are the sole basis for his sense of identity.
With his personal identity at stake, the
right relationship is of the utmost importance if the good life is to be
experienced. Unfortunately, natural man consistently fails to experience the
relationship of love that gives him his sense of wholesomeness. Unless his
relationships get past the basic pleasure and utility needs, he will never
experience the acceptance, approval, and affection he so desperately
desires.
Beyond the limits of personal pleasure and
personal usefulness, the relationship of love thrives upon making sure the
needs of others are not neglected. The loving person never puts himself
first in the interaction of love, never claiming his own share of things
when it would deprive the needs of others.
Restraints against personal gain are always exercised when it comes to the
scheme of experiencing life. Although all natural relationships are entered
into so that the individual can enhance his own self, the supernatural
relationship of love exists solely for the enhancement of others.
There has been only one person who has
totally refused to use others for any personal enhancement. Jesus of
Nazareth, the incarnate Son of God, was taken continually to the end of
Himself for the benefit of others. He knew the mystery of life, the mystery
of the relationship of love--experiencing death to live.
It is only in Jesus Christ that other
men might experience this magnificence obsession of love. Every man must
have a miraculous event to occur in his life to be taken to the place of
supernatural love. A completely new way of speaking, a new way of seeing,
and a new way of thinking must occur. Every man must be saved from the
contamination of his warped or perverted age, must be saved from the
thinking of natural man.
It is not that most men do not perceive the
need for others. They do. Most men see others, however, only as a means to
their end. Without the revelation of Jesus Christ, man will always use
others to meet his perceived needs. Although he may not openly abuse others,
he simply does not understand that the life he desires to experience can
only be found in, not by, others.
The complete (perfect) person can never be
defined as a singular individual. Just as God cannot be defined without the
Oneness of His Threeness (the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Spirit), man cannot be defined without the oneness of his threeness
(the individual, the other, and love).
The good life is experienced only when a
distinct individual has the essence of his being in, at least,
one other person and in love. The good life is always defined in the light of others. It
is experiencing the relationship of love--the connections of life.
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