Friday, March 10, 2017

Growing Relationships

“It’s hard to get well when you dwell among the sick,” a Buddhist monk told a young traveler. “Realize that sickness longs for company.” If that’s true for the flu, then it’s equally true for spiritual sickness. Solomon gave similar advice to his sons about using wisdom when encountering those of the world.

He said in Proverbs 22:10, “Drive out a scoffer (a person who mocks and sneers at people), and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease,” and Proverbs 22:5, “Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.” But, instead, he shows us the right directions; Proverbs 22:17-18, “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.” Or in Proverbs 22:3, “The prudent (wise person) sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

It’s easy to adopt the attitudes of people around you, but we have to overcome the temptations to become negative or ungodly. Under the New Covenant with God, He’s offered something that helps us in that process: the Holy Spirit, which we’re told we receive as a gift to help us in the discernment process. Consider these words from Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

God has shared  His wisdom with us to help spot sin before we step in it, and make the appropriate decisions, but all of this is contingent upon us wanting to listen and being willing to follow. Unfortunately, too many folks do not rely on the Spirit to guide their thoughts and actions, which leads to a hardened heart.

Parents serve as examples to help prevent this from happening, as well as grandparents, and brothers and sisters in Christ. All of us can help be the voice of reason that keeps us from rebelling against God’s wisdom in dealing with folks around us. How do we do that? You probably already know the answer. Read the directions, ask for help, slow down and think.

2 Timothy 2:15-16, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness…”

Take advantage of the opportunities around you to encourage another brother or sister.

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