It’s said that who you are is made up of the five people you’re around the most. It’s a pretty good argument for heeding the Bible verses on choosing friends wisely from Proverbs 13:20; 22:24-25; 27:17 and 1st Corinthians 15:33.
“Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.”“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.”“As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.”“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
There is truth in it, the closer you are to someone, the more influence they have with you. Your spouse or best friend in comparison to an acquaintance or someone you just met. Take a look at who you are around the most.
List them.
What aspects of them have you taken on?
From my best friend, I get the protectiveness and tendency to ‘adopt’ anyone I’m really close to as family. Casey’s openness teases out my humor and willingness to be more open with others. That’s just a couple of examples.
What about your relationship with God?
He should be your biggest influence. That relationship with Jesus should be the closest one you have. Is it? Do you spend time with him daily?
You probably thought, ‘I don’t have time.’ Am I right?
It happens. Look, if you don’t have time for an in-depth study every day, that’s okay.
- Pray
- Worship
- Read or Listen to the Bible
When you can study it, great! The key is you have to make time.
It can be praying while driving. Thinking or poking at a memorized passage of Scripture while doing something on autopilot. I do that a lot.
What I love is what I call my ‘appointment with God’ every Monday. After posting these posts, all electronics and media are turned off for the morning. It’s just me and God. Sometimes it’s normal study time or I’ll chase something around. I’ll read in my systematic theology textbook (nerd alert). I may ‘sing’ or just sit in silence (“Be still and know that I am God…”-Psalm 46:10),
Why do I do this?
Because of the truth in John 15:5-6. I need that connection every day. You need that connection. If not, my patience, love, kindness and the better parts of my personality are weaker. I get irritable, angry, and sarcastic.
It’s harder to deal with the world and life like that. Harder to glorify God and reflect him.
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8
Is life getting you down? Can’t seem to do right? Check who you spend the most time with and make sure God’s in that group.
A Ronin's Journey 