Paul made himself a servant to all in order to gain the more. The Greek word translated as win or gain is kerdaino, which means to acquire by effort or investment or to earn a profit. This gaining refers to improving a human relationship rather than bringing someone into a relationship with God. In the same way that one gains a brother by restoring a relationship after a fault has been addressed, or a wife may gain an unbelieving husband through chaste conduct so that animosity lessens, Paul sought to protect or enhance connections with those he encountered. He limited his own lawful actions to avoid unnecessary offense, thereby maintaining positive rapport that could allow others to hear instruction and experience a measure of deliverance from error. The Greek word translated as save is sozo, which means to make safe or to deliver or protect. This saving does not refer to eternal salvation or justification, which only God can grant, but to helping someone turn from a sin or avoid harm in the present life. By becoming all things to all men without compromising God's standards, Paul worked to keep doors open for such help. A person who is gained in relationship is more likely to receive what is said, yet only God can initiate a spiritual relationship with Himself.

Meekness covers a correct assessment of personal rights without lowering standards of justice. A meek person directs warfare first against evil in his own heart and has a forgiving attitude because he is a repentant sinner. In social contexts meekness appears with humility, patience, forbearance and love. It requires receiving offenses without retaliation and bearing them patiently without a desire for revenge to build and maintain unity. In conflict meekness combines with gentleness as a specific virtue for handling disputes within relationships. A meek person reacts with patience, kindness and gentleness when others attack him yet offers implacable resistance to evil in defense of God. He feels wrongs bitterly but refuses to give vent to hateful or vindictive anger. Instead he remains full of pity for the damaged character of the perpetrator. Meekness tempers judgment by producing clearer understanding of sin and avoids reacting more harshly than necessary. Toward those in authority meekness produces a non-belligerent, considerate and unassertive manner that reduces conflict and supports peace. The same quality enables acceptance of instruction from the least of the saints and endurance of provocation without becoming inflamed. It leads a person to seek no private revenge while leaving justice to God.

The meal offering represented a man's wholehearted devotion to his fellow man. The burnt offering had to be made before the meal offering could be made. Our relationship with God must be established before we can have truly successful relationships with others. Cain refused to go to Abel for the lambs for the sin and burnt offering but Abel went to his fellow man for the meal offering and fulfilled the requirement of being devoted to his fellow man. God was looking for unity, being willing to work together to accomplish God's will between brothers. Cain asserted through his offering that he could be rightly devoted to his fellow man without first having the correct devotion to God yet ended up snuffing out the life of his fellow man, his own brother.

Mercy begins a group of beatitudes directed outward toward fellow man rather than inward toward God. It functions as a visible fruit produced by the first four beatitudes. Biblical mercy, drawn from the Hebrew and Aramaic concept of chesed, requires deliberate effort to enter another person's experience until one sees with that person's eyes, thinks with that person's mind, and feels with that person's feelings. This depth of sympathy moves beyond external pity to genuine identification. The merciful person recognizes personal sins and therefore avoids sharp condemnation of others. Readiness to forgive flows from awareness of God's forgiveness. In relationships this produces kindness, tenderheartedness, and forbearance that preserve unity within a congregation or family. Humility, meekness, patience, and love enable members to bear with one another and to put away bitterness, wrath, and evil speaking. When judgment is required, mercy enters by considering reasons behind another's words and conduct. Such understanding tempers both justice and mercy, activating the principle of treating others as one wishes to be treated. Mercy extends to those in miserable circumstances through practical acts of compassion, as illustrated when one bandages wounds, provides transport, and arranges ongoing care. It also responds to miserable treatment by returning forgiveness rather than retaliation. God models this pattern by entering human experience through Jesus Christ, who sympathizes with weaknesses because He was tempted in all points as humans are. Those who show mercy receive mercy in return, reaping what they sow in kindness and compassion toward others.

A biblical approach to relationships with people requires being of one mind, having compassion for one another, loving as brothers, being tenderhearted, and being courteous. A short definition of courtesy is polite behavior that shows respect for other people. Jesus exhorts His disciples to treat others as you want them to treat you. This approach fulfills the law and the prophets. Chivalry emphasized the virtues of service to others, honor, love, and courtesy. Leviticus commands people to show respect for old people and honor them. People must revere older folks, encourage children to go last in line at a potluck, teach children to look an adult in the eye, say yes sir or ma'am, not interrupt adult conversation, and hold doors. Paul instructs believers not to be jealous or proud but to be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. In Titus, Paul directs believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do an honorable kind of work, not to insult anyone or be argumentative, and instead to be gentle and show perfect courtesy to everyone. The Greek word philophron translates directly to the English courtesy and comes from philos, meaning friend, and phren, meaning understanding, perceiving, and judging. In I Peter the apostle writes that all must be of one mind, having compassion one for another, love as brethren, be pitiful, and be courteous. The Greek words include telos, pas, homophron, sumpathes, philadelphos, eusplagchnos, and philophron. Peter summarizes instructions on relationships with brethren, mates, and the world at large. A paraphrase reads that each and every one must have compassion, sympathy, even empathy for one another, loving everyone as if they were family, and be compassionate and courteous. The only way to follow this instruction is to consider others more important than ourselves. A humble and God-fearing person will naturally be courteous. If people esteem others greater than themselves, they will be courteous.

Peacemaking aims to reconcile groups or individuals at odds. The difficulties in this are threefold. First, keeping one's biases from unduly influencing the tenor of the arguments. Second, finding common ground from which agreement can be built. Third, finding ways to change the views of those at odds to effect a change of position. Proverbs 26:17 gives some keen insight into this. He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears. This strongly indicates that peacemaking may be a painful endeavor. Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. This wisdom is also peaceable and, unlike the attitude of the highly competitive, willing to yield. It is not irascible, contentious, angry or bigoted driving the wedges of separation deeper but rather calming, gentle and tranquil. The heavenly wisdom will accomplish this through a person, not because he is necessarily mediating, but simply because he is projecting the nature of God. If regenerated by God's Spirit, being at peace and making peace will be the rule in one's life. The vocation of every Christian is to make peace primarily through what he himself is. Secondarily, one must strive to secure the conditions and relationships that will make good will, concord and cooperation possible instead of hatred, strife, competition and conflict. Paul gives more advice on this subject. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Christians within the church do not hold in check some of the very things that cause so much disunity in this world. The apostle entreats one to lay aside the causes of contention so one can live in harmony. Rather than pursuing the things that cause contention, Paul says, pursue the things that cause peace. It is a Christian's responsibility, part of his vocation. By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom. Contention divides. Much of the strife and disunity in the church is promoted by those who seem bent on majoring in the minors. Paul tells these people to change their focus, to turn the direction of their thinking, because agreement exists on far more of real, major importance to salvation than disagreement. If cooperation occurs on these major things rather than on private ends and prejudices, peace and unity will tend to emerge rather than strife and disunity. Paul further admonishes the irritated members to have faith in God's power to change the other. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One can cultivate a spirit of peace by striving for holiness. Holiness is a major issue leading to preparation for God's Kingdom and salvation. Peace is one of its fruits. One can show love for the brethren and strive to do good for them as opportunity arises, especially to those who are of the household of faith. One can spend more serious time studying God's Word getting to know Him. These admirable pursuits are humbling and serving. They produce peace and put other, less important matters into a proper perspective and priority. If pursued sincerely, they keep the minors right where they belong because they tend to erode one's pride. Most are not at all adept at reconciling warring parties, but that is not the kind of peacemaking Jesus is concerned about now. His idea of peacemaking revolves around the way one lives. As it is with all, conduct makes or breaks the peace. Paul commands, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men, an arduous task at times, considering human personalities. The thrust of Paul's exhortation implies that, far from being a simple task, complying with it will call upon constant vigilance, self-control and earnest prayer. Though human

Jesus Christ instructs His disciples that a servant is not greater than his master and applies this principle to relationships among people. He demonstrates that one who governs should act as one who serves and that His followers ought to wash one another's feet. This act symbolizes the forgiveness of sins that restores a clean relationship with God and requires the same forgiveness toward others. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus states that if people forgive others their trespasses the heavenly Father will also forgive them but if they do not forgive neither will the Father forgive their trespasses. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant illustrates the same requirement by showing that one who receives mercy must extend it without limit. Jesus tells Peter that forgiveness must extend not merely to seven times but to seventy times seven. Putting on Christ demands that grudges hatred and unwillingness to forgive be replaced with Christian virtues that preserve relationships. When these instructions are practiced inner peace and happiness result because the burdens of animosity are removed.

In our relationships with others, comfort plays a vital role, reflecting the divine example set by the God of All Comfort. God comforts us in all our tribulations so that we, in turn, may comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we receive from Him. This mutual exchange of comfort is essential within the Body of Christ, as it fosters connection and support among brethren. On a human level, the presence or absence of comfort in our formative years profoundly shapes how we relate to others, including in marriage and within our spiritual community. Experiences of comfort—or the lack thereof—create lasting imprints that influence our styles of love and connection. Some may become closed off, valuing independence over emotional bonds, finding it hard to connect deeply due to a lack of early affection. Others, raised in anxious or critical environments, might focus on pleasing others to avoid conflict, often leading to resentment over time. Unpredictable affection in childhood can result in a fear of abandonment, causing one to idealize relationships only to reject them when expectations are unmet. In chaotic or abusive settings, individuals may become controlling to avoid vulnerability or, conversely, submissive, tolerating mistreatment and losing their own voice. Despite these challenges, God's comfort offers healing. As we draw closer to Him, He provides the security and strength needed to overcome relational barriers. Through His unchanging nature, we find stability to trust rather than fear abandonment. His forbearance teaches us to bear with others, and His example helps us relinquish the need to control, trusting Him with our lives. As we experience His comfort, often through others as conduits, we learn to be open and vulnerable, expressing emotions appropriately and connecting more deeply with His Body. Ultimately, God, the only Perfect Parent, offers everlasting consolation and hope. By receiving His comfort, we are equipped to extend relief and support to others, enhancing our relationships. This process, guided by His love and example, transforms how we relate to one another, establishing us in every good word and work.