Relationships

Today I am plagued with another question: Why did God create us as relational creatures? Humans, by nature, are selfish, broken, hurtful and sinful. That makes me sound really negative. Humans can be loving, kind, compassionate, trustworthy and helpful too. However, it seems that no matter who you are in a relationship with they will eventually hurt you or you will hurt them.

Parents disappoint a kid who trusted in a promise. Friends get frustrated and walk away shaking their heads. Significant others forget anniversaries. A coworker lies to protect themselves. Siblings decide that they are better off on their own. None of these people set out to hurt the others... it just happens. So why, oh why, do we need to be in relationships with other people? Why can't we be self-sufficient? Why did God make us interdependent? 

Even though it pains me to answer this question, I do have somewhat of an answer.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Does this make it any easier to be in quality relationships with people? No, not really. I wish it did. I wish that, especially those who profess Christ as savior, would treat people better. I wish I treated people better. I wish, as a Christ follower, I did a better job of showing His love to people. 

Someone told me that broken people do broken things and hurt people, hurt people. I think this is partially true but mostly just an excuse for bad behavior. People who are hurting do not have to hurt people in return. On the other hand people who feel like they have their lives together don't need to act better than broken people. We are all in this together and we would all be a lot better off if we were just a little nicer.