“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20 ESV
Spring cleaning is often described as the time of year when people thoroughly clean out their homes. This could include our closet, the car, a basement, etc. Very rarely do we apply the principle of spring cleaning to our relationships or the people in our lives, and perhaps many of us should consider doing so.
Relationships are a key part of God’s strategy. In addition to being in relationship with Him, God wants us to be in relationship with others. Throughout the Bible we observe both the positive and negative impact of people being connected to one another. David and Jonathan possessed a deep bond and commitment to one another. Samson and Delilah’s relationship led to Samson losing much of the gift God had given him. Job had his friends to comfort him and help him process a difficult time in life. Phoebe financially supported Paul and transported his letter to Rome from Corinth. Even Jesus formed bonds with the disciples, including Judas who also bonded with those who wanted Jesus dead. In Biblical times, and in our world today, relationships matter a great deal.
There’s a reason why peer groups influence teenagers more than their parents. Proverbs essentially confirms what many of our families told us growing up, “birds of a feather flock together.” “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (13:20) The truth remains that even as adults, relationships matter a great deal in our lives.
Perhaps we think we’re past that stage in life or that no one could influence us to come out of character. But let’s be honest, whether consciously or subconsciously we know who to ask for the advice that we seek. At times, that can be the deciding factor between reaching out to the friend who will give you that good Jesus advice or the friend who might encourage you to bust someone’s window out their car or take them for a ride in the trunk! Paul reminds us to “not be deceived: ‘bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
We’re almost halfway through 2019, with just under a month left in spring. Take stock of your relationships and to whom you’re devoting time, energy, and resources. Pastor Chris Hodges from Church of the Highlands puts it this way:
Nurture important relationships
Restore broken relationships
Sever harmful relationships
Initiate some meaningful relationships
Perhaps your focus in 2019 has not consistently been on the people that God has placed in your life to sharpen you. Maybe there’s a broken relationship that needs repair or investment because past pain or the busyness of life has stopped the fellowship. There could be some people in your life that you need to put on pause for a moment because they are causing you physical or emotional harm. There may even be some new relationships God is leading you to pursue in this season because you’ve been walking this life alone for too long. Wherever you find yourself today, maximize God’s best for you and invest in the relationships that matter most today.
Reflection
Are there relationships that I need to nurture, restore, sever, or initiate? What steps can I take to restore a broken relationship or sever a harmful one? Are there people God has brought into my life that I have neglected? How can I nurture or initiate a connection with those people?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the gift of relationships. I desire to thrive and be all that You would have me to be. Let me not overlook or forsake the gifts You’ve given me through relationships with others. Give me the courage to end harmful relationships, as well as the dedication and wisdom to invest in meaningful, important or broken relationships. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Photo by Hian Oliveira on Unsplash
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