A quick Google search describes interpersonal relationships as “a social connection, bond, or affiliation between two or more people that can vary in depth, length, and intimacy.” When expanded further to consider this term from a Christian perspective, interpersonal relationships are defined as “rooted in the image of God as a relational Trinity and are guided by unconditional love, forgiveness, and mutual submission.”

People were made to live in community with one another, and from this interpersonal relationships are born. As much is clear to us as early as Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.”

Not only is God Himself a relational being—capable of love, sadness, anger, and jealousy—the Trinity also represents a symbolic manifestation of relationship including a son and father. Being made in his likeness indicates that we—His greatest creation—would possess the deeply important ability of connection and relationship, both with Him, and between each other. Interpersonal relationships are not only a cornerstone of our societies but of our own creation and identity.

But we were not created with the capacity for interpersonal relationships simply to connect with God or co-exist together and enjoy each other's company. Soon after Genesis 1:26 we read Genesis 2:18: “Then the Lord God said, ‘it is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’”

Well of course this spoke directly in the context of the romantic and biological connection between man and woman necessary to assist each other and “be fruitful and multiply,” the notion that it is not good for a man (human) to be alone, and we benefit from collaboration, further reinforces the necessity of interpersonal relationships.

Relationships, whether husband and wife, family, friends, team mates, and certainly business partners, allow us to come together, combine our skills, ideas, energy, and time to create meaningful aspects of life.

But while some connections can yield temporary worldly success—innovations, products, financial gain—for interpersonal relationships to be truly strong and as intended, we must pair this understanding of the spiritual vertical cross (a connection to God), with the horizontal cross (our earthly connections). Prioritizing Christ-like traits such as understanding, patience, respect, and integrity allows us to not only develop healthy relationships that will be more likely to create positive impact, but also provides us the opportunity to exemplify the true intention of interpersonal relationships.

Such a notion points us toward 1 John 4:11-12: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

If it is love that underpins such Christ-like characteristics as listed above, then this provides further confirmation that love is not reserved for romantic connections, and that its concept extends much deeper into the interpersonal relationships we create. Operating with this in mind allows us to approach our work life with a higher purpose—not simply to achieve a nice workplace where people can do a job without

significant disagreement—but to elevate our standard to demonstrate love through how we carry ourselves and come together with our team.

1 Peter 4:8-10 reads, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Fostering a culture of love and the bi-products that come with it—respect, dignity, appreciation, trust, patience, understanding—can be a significant step in cultivating a workplace that seeks a higher goal. And as far as gifts are concerned, no matter the technical and practical aptitude Christians bring to a particular workplace, the greatest skill they are equipped with is the ability to live out and be an example of the type of relationship they know we are all meant to seek, one that has the potential to elevate our purpose on earth. It is just a matter of implementing this crucial skill day-to-day.