Day 13 – Read Proverbs 13
Who’s In Your Circle?
When I was in high school, I became good friends with two of my basketball buddies who were in their late twenties. They were smart, and they loved the Lord!
Every now and then, my parents would call me and ask where I was. When I told them I was with one of my basketball buddies, they knew I was in good company. In fact, they encouraged me to hang out with them more often. My parents knew they were a significant influence in my life.
What Influences Are Impacting You?
As we examine our lives, we need to ask ourselves who we're letting influence us the most. We all have influencing voices that are either impacting us positively or negatively. Influencing voices are not only friends, but also the entertainment we consume and engage with on television or the internet.
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. – Proverbs 13:20 NLT
Who Is Discipling You?
We are all being discipled. To be a disciple means to be a learner. I'm grateful for my basketball buddies who poured into my life when I was in high school. I was able to learn so much from them, because they were devoted, godly men who showed me who God was and how to walk with Jesus.
In Proverbs 13:20, we're told that one of the ways we walk in wisdom is by walking with those who are wise. How do we “walk with the wise”? How do we choose the right friends? Well, everything we learn is based on our ability to listen. So when you're choosing who you're going to allow to speak into your life, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Take time to listen attentively.
- Ask questions when wise people are around.
- Make sure those we walk with love God and honor His Word.
Surround Yourself with Fruitful People
Examine the fruit of those you walk with. Look for good fruit and healthy results from a person’s life before you decide to associate with them. Although we must choose our friends wisely, this doesn't mean we never associate with unbelievers. Jesus hung out with sinners and tax collectors. We are called to be a light to a dark world. However, there are friends in our lives who impact us the most. It’s those people we must choose wisely.
Dig Deeper
1. Why is it important to look for the fruit in a person’s life before you walk with them?
2. What are the two reasons we need godly friends?
3. Do you have any godly influences in your life? Who can you be a friend to?
