Wise Relationships
"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." - Proverbs 13:20
The people we choose to spend time with have a profound impact on who we become. This verse presents a clear principle: wisdom is contagious, but so is foolishness. Our companions influence our thoughts, values, decisions, and ultimately our character.
This principle is especially relevant in school environments where young people are forming friendships that may last for years. The pressure to fit in can be intense, and it's tempting to compromise values in order to be accepted by popular groups. But wisdom recognizes that it's better to have a few friends who encourage us toward righteousness than many friends who lead us toward compromise.
The influence of our relationships works in both directions. Just as we're influenced by those we spend time with, we also influence them. This means we have a responsibility to be the kind of friend who encourages wisdom in others. We should be people others can walk with and become wiser as a result.
For parents, this verse highlights the importance of helping children choose their friendships wisely. This doesn't mean being overly controlling or judgmental, but rather teaching children to recognize the qualities that make for good friendships: honesty, kindness, respect, and shared values.
In adult relationships, the same principle applies. We should seek out mentors who are further along in their faith journey, peers who challenge us to grow, and younger people we can encourage and guide. The wise person intentionally builds a network of relationships that support their pursuit of godliness and purpose.
This doesn't mean we should only associate with perfect people or avoid all contact with those who don't share our faith. Jesus spent time with tax collectors and sinners, but He did so from a position of strength and with a purpose of bringing them to repentance. We must be wise about when we're in a position to influence others toward good and when we might be more susceptible to negative influence ourselves.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me wisdom in my relationships. Help me to choose friends who encourage me to grow in faith and character, and give me strength to be a positive influence in the lives of others. Amen.
The people we choose to spend time with have a profound impact on who we become. This verse presents a clear principle: wisdom is contagious, but so is foolishness. Our companions influence our thoughts, values, decisions, and ultimately our character.
This principle is especially relevant in school environments where young people are forming friendships that may last for years. The pressure to fit in can be intense, and it's tempting to compromise values in order to be accepted by popular groups. But wisdom recognizes that it's better to have a few friends who encourage us toward righteousness than many friends who lead us toward compromise.
The influence of our relationships works in both directions. Just as we're influenced by those we spend time with, we also influence them. This means we have a responsibility to be the kind of friend who encourages wisdom in others. We should be people others can walk with and become wiser as a result.
For parents, this verse highlights the importance of helping children choose their friendships wisely. This doesn't mean being overly controlling or judgmental, but rather teaching children to recognize the qualities that make for good friendships: honesty, kindness, respect, and shared values.
In adult relationships, the same principle applies. We should seek out mentors who are further along in their faith journey, peers who challenge us to grow, and younger people we can encourage and guide. The wise person intentionally builds a network of relationships that support their pursuit of godliness and purpose.
This doesn't mean we should only associate with perfect people or avoid all contact with those who don't share our faith. Jesus spent time with tax collectors and sinners, but He did so from a position of strength and with a purpose of bringing them to repentance. We must be wise about when we're in a position to influence others toward good and when we might be more susceptible to negative influence ourselves.
Prayer:
Lord, grant me wisdom in my relationships. Help me to choose friends who encourage me to grow in faith and character, and give me strength to be a positive influence in the lives of others. Amen.
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