Who Do We Surround Ourselves With?

Who do we surround ourselves with? Do you ever think about the people you spend time with regularly? It’s important to consider. 

Surrounded by Packages

I’m starting to get surrounded by packages. Guess who has been shopping? 🙂

This is what happens in my house at this time of year. All packages pile up in my office/writing room. Last year by mid-December, I could barely find my desk. I anticipate this year could be a repeat.

The difference this year is that I plan to organize the packages so that I don’t risk tripping and getting hurt. I may have endangered myself a few times last year. In fact, I know I did. I probably still have scars from banging into boxes and crates.

This year, I’m wiser. I will surround myself in a way that keeps me safe. This is exactly what we need to do with the people we choose to surround ourselves with too. We need to be choosey. We need to be wise.  

Don’t Get Entangled

Yesterday, I shared about anger, what it does to us if we allow it to take root. Well, today, I share that others’ anger can trip us up too. In fact, Solomon advised that we “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” Proverbs 22:24-25, ESV

In other words, don’t become friends with people controlled by anger. Don’t even associate with them because we risk learning their sinful ways and getting trapped. Exactly like I felt last year in my office surrounded by so many packages. I felt trapped.

On the same note, God also tells us that bad friends will destroy us.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” 1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV

Don’t be fooled by people with bad character. If we choose to surround ourselves with them, we risk injuring our own character. They may seem fun, nevertheless, it’s a slippery slope to spend time with people who are foolish. They don’t care about our character, but we need to care about our character.

Who Do We Surround Ourselves With?

So, who do we surround ourselves with then? The wise. That’s who. Once again, God lets us know who and who not to spend time with.

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20, ESV

Spending time with fools only means we will suffer harm. Surrounding ourselves with unwise people, only opens the doorway for us to suffer. On the other hand, surrounding ourselves with the wise helps us become wise.

I read an article recently on the Jesus Film Project called 5 Christians You Should Spend More Time With. I like their list. It includes:

1. The Prayer Warrior
2. The Evangelist
3. The Neighbor
4. The Discipler
5. The Counselor

We need others in our lives to pour good into us, to stretch us, to help us grow. We are to be in community with other Christians. This list is a good list to consider. Do you spend time with anyone on this list?

Be Wise Who You Surround Yourself With

Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

Who are the five people you spend the most time with? Are they kind or angry? Are they gentle or harsh? Are they encouraging or discouraging? Do they complement or condemn? Are they hard workers or lazy? You get the idea. 

On this last day of the November New Challenge, I encourage you to consider who you surround yourself with. Is it time to spend less time with someone in your life because they are harming you or dragging you down in some way? Maybe it’s time to cut some people out of your life. Perhaps they are only tripping you and trapping you.

Now consider, who in your life brings joy to you? Who encourages you? Who listens to and validates you? Is there anyone who coaches you to be a better you? Choose to spend more time with those kinds of people. 

If you don’t have anyone in your life to encourage you, well, I’m here. That’s one of my God-given purposes in life. Encourage you in faith, purpose, and perseverance. 

One last point. Are you someone’s go-to person? Are you an encourager, discipler, or prayer warrior? Can you be someone that helps surround someone else with wisdom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control?

Friend, the November New Challenge is complete today, but our work is not done. We have much work to do for the Lord. Part of this work includes being wise who we surround ourselves with and being willing to share the wisdom and strengths God has given each of us with others.

Blessing

May you choose to spend time with the wise. May you be brave to let go of those who entangle you and lead you to sin. And may you share with others your God-given talents. Be someone else’s go-to person.