My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 NLT
Godly Wisdom
You Are What You Eat
“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are…” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”
“You are the average of the 10 people you spend the most time with”
“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” Proverbs 13:20 MSG
“Well, I am the good influence in our friend group!”
“…Bad company corrupts good character” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
If you stay in an unhealthy relationship long enough it will eventually change you
Inspect
Is walking in my God given calling worth a temporary discomfort?
Is passive comfort worth giving up your God given calling?
Can you share your heart with them?
Can you communicate your joys with them?
Can you communicate your sorrows with them?
Can you share frustrations with them?
Can you share victories with them?
Can you share prayer requests with them?
Do they pray with you or for you?
Do they lift you up or tear you down?
Do they encourage you?
Do they add value to you?
Do they care about your spouse/family?
Healthy Boundaries
Determine who you are giving permission to have an influence in your life
- You walk in the safety of wise counsel
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” Proverbs 11:14 NKJV
- Your character is protected
“…Bad company corrupts good character” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
- You will be sharpened
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17
- You’re not alone
“Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family” Proverbs 18:24 GW
TAKE HOME:
- Inspect Your Current Environment
Is this helping or hurting me walk in my God given calling?
- Change Yourself & Your Environment
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change” – Jim Rohn
God gave me conviction
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” John 14:16-17 NLT
- Challenge Yourself in Your New Environment
LifeGroups
- Move Forward Despite Criticism
“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” – Aristotle
“I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins” Hebrews 8:12 CSB