The Company We Keep

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Proverbs 27:17, NLT)

If you’ve raised or are raising children, then you probably have had conversations with them about their friendships or the how the company they keep can influence them for good or bad. When our own children were growing up and at the age where their friendships included times they would hang out together, away from our watchful eye, my husband and I would watch the way someone in particular had a certain kind of influence over them, and, at times, we would have a conversation with them about the things we saw; how their behavior or attitude was influenced, or their potential for positive or negative influence over our children.

Children and young people are not the only ones who can be influenced by others. Whether we admit it or not even adults are impressionable. Sometimes people we hang out with, or talk to on a regular basis can have both a negative or positive impact on us. We might really like certain people, they may be our besties and we are as tight as two-peas-in-a-pod, but their influence on us is not very healthy. We don’t act better, but worse when we are around them.  Solomon says, as iron sharpens iron, so one friend sharpens another. Meaning we should rub off on one another in the best way, friends should bring out the good and best in one another, we should challenge one another in the best ways, make one another smarter, brighter, better, not the other way around.  We are only as sharp as the company we keep. Let’s Pray

Young or old, Lord we need to keep a close watch over our relationships and the effect others have on our attitude, behavior, speech, and ideas. Just as you guard us help us to guard our relationships. Bring those people into our life that have a good and positive influence on us and we on them.

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

When you filter your relationships and friendships through the lens of Solomon’s words of wisdom how do they stack up?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?