The Company We Keep

   

Three of our sweet grandsons

 I love babysitting our grandchildren.  It gives me time to play with them, hug and kiss them and in general, spoil them!  However, if they have a cold, it has been my experience that I usually catch it as has been the case this week.  I think God is building my immune system along with theirs.
     While catching a cold is not fun, there are many other things we can catch from those around us that are more detrimental to our well-being.  For example, if we spend a lot of time with a negative person, we can easily pick up a negative outlook on life.  Attitudes, moods and worldly thinking can be quickly caught if we are not on guard.
     Proverbs, the book of wisdom, speaks to this issue in 13:20:  "He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm."  We often read in the newspaper about some young person who has come from a good home but who happened to be in the company of others that committed a crime.  Because he was present, he is also charged.  This is a clear example of being a companion of fools.   Even in the church, this can happen as well.  It may not be a crime, but some aberrant teaching that a person catches from another begins to spread.
     In I Corinthians 15, Paul is addressing this church that had so many errors and problems.  This specific chapter dealt with this issue of the resurrection from the dead.  There were some in this congregation who claimed to have knowledge (I Cor. 8:1) but who denied the Resurrection showing their ignorance regarding the things of God.  Their ideas infected others just like a cold virus.  Paul warned in I Cor. 15:33:  "Do not be deceived:  'Bad company ruins good morals.'"  This is how false teachings get started and grow.  No matter how much we regard others (whether pastors, teachers, authors, philosophers etc.) we must always consider what they say in line with God's Word.  I have a healthy respect for the Bereans who carefully looked into the Scriptures to see if what Paul was preaching was correct (Acts 17:11).  We also ought to do the same.
     Obviously, we live in a fallen world where we daily rub shoulders with all sorts of people and many ideas.  We are not meant to hide away, but we can be proactive in how we can avoid becoming infected with bad attitudes and worldly thinking.
     1)  The best vaccination in the world is reading and knowing your Bible.  Having the knowledge of God's truth allows the Spirit to bring to our remembrance God's own Words when we are confronted with wrong ideas.
     2) Daily put on God's full armor so we are ready for the battle of ideas that confront us.  God has given us all we need for life and godliness but we must be prepared. (Ephesians 6:10-18).
     3) Be prayed up!  Daily spend time in conversation with God that He might deliver us from evil.  Jesus is our example here as He spent large amounts of time alone with the Father.  He even gave us a pattern for prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

Two more of our sweet grandchildren

     4) Do spend quality time in fellowship with other believers in worship to God and instruction through preaching.  Other believers can stimulate us to grow and encourage us to correct errors in our thinking.
     5) Avoid spending long periods of time around those who are always negative, worldly in their thinking or foolish in their actions.  While we are to share the Gospel with those outside the faith, we
are not to spend more time with them than with the fellowship of believers.  We must remember that the company we keep is crucial to our outlook on life and how we grow as a Christian.
     I will eventually get over this cold.  It takes time, and I am doing all I can (vitamins, lots of water, rest) to get better.  In the same way, if we DO get infected with some wrong thinking, negative attitudes or sinful actions, we also have some remedies and the first is to repent (I John 1:9).  Then, we must start to make some changes by considering what happened that led to this.  Course corrections should be a way of life for Christians because we are not perfect yet.  Let us become proactive in our relationships rather than reactive remembering that those we spend time with will influence our lives either for good or for evil.  Keeping Christ the center of all we think, do and say will help us to glorify Him.  Selah!

AN ENCOURAGING WORD

     I have heard it said that it takes five positive comments to overcome one negative comment.   Most of us know what it feels like when others around us constantly make negative remarks.  It causes your energy level to drop along with disrupting concentration especially in the work place.  Growing up in a very negative or worry driven home can also be problematic for a person.  Whether we like to admit it or not, words have an impact on how we feel about ourselves as well as others.  We are either setting a positive tone or a negative one by the words we speak or in some cases, don't speak.
     According to the Bible, we are to encourage one another as we fellowship together.  Jesus said that people would know we are His disciples if we show love for one another.  What can be more loving than to speak words of encouragement to fellows believers?  In addition, when we offer encouraging words to those outside of Christ, we open doors to communicate the Gospel to them by showing them love.
     In Matthew 7:12, Jesus makes this statement after telling of God's goodness and His willingness to give to those who love Him:  "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  We all know this as the Golden Rule, and in this passage, Jesus makes it a positive command.  How we treat other people is a reflection of our relationship with God.  A negative outlook, critical spirit, and discouraging words do not glorify the Lord or edify anyone!
     A number of scripture verses directly address the issue of encouraging one another.  In his letter to the to the believers at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul spoke of how he purposely sent Timothy to build them up in 1 Thessalonians 3:2:  "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith."  Then in chapter 4:18, Paul writes:  "Therefore encourage each other with these words" when he had just finished his discussion of the return of Christ.   I Thessalonians 5:11 reads:  "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing."
     Another letter written to the Hebrews also admonishes believers to build each other up in chapter 3:13:  "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."  Finally, in Hebrews 10:25 the author writes:  "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another --and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Of course, there are many other passages we could look at, but the point is clear that we need to build each other up as we walk in this world.  So how can we begin to do this consistently?
     Practically speaking, it is not that difficult to make encouraging comments to others.  The issue is making time to do this.  For example, take a moment to tell your pastor how much you appreciated his sermon on Sunday.  He labors hard to study the Word of God and desires to build up believers.  Therefore, a good word of encouragement will give him even more motivation in his work.  Other ways to encourage believers include: writing notes to those who are ill, celebrating a birthday or anniversary.  In fact, there is a dear lady in our fellowship who never fails to send us an anniversary card EVERY year.  She said she just knows how much it meant to her to receive cards so she feels this can bless others as well.
     We can visit a shut-in or go to a nursing home and encourage people there.  These places can be so lonely when no one thinks to visit.  No matter what your age or health, a word of encouragement is deeply appreciated.  Sending or taking flowers to someone who is in the hospital can bring much needed cheer.  Helping to cook meals for someone who has just had surgery also can be a blessing to them.
     Finally, let me address another issue that is near and dear to my heart.  Encourage people who teach Sunday School, work in the church office, clean the church, serve as a leader or do any other ministry that in some way touches you personally.  We so often forget these folks!  Let me add a personal note here.  I have been writing devotions for nearly fifteen years now so that I can encourage others.  It is my desire to help people grow in their faith.  Now that I am blogging, I try to make an effort to read what others write and then make a comment on their blog to encourage them.  We need to take time to let others know that their efforts are important to us.  Certainly, we cannot cover every one all the time, but we need to take time to begin saying "thank you...you bless me" to those around us.
     With the world in the shape it is in and the economy less than exciting, we need lots of positive comments to overcome all the negative things we hear every day.  And if you are one of those making all those negative comments that bring others down, please talk to the Lord.  Think about the impact you are having on those around you.  Are you glorifying God by constantly worrying or whining?  Instead, set out to make it your mission to speak a good word to the people around you at work, at home or at school.  It doesn't cost anything to do this either...in fact, you may be the one that reaps the reward of bringing a smile to some one's face.  May each of us strive as much as it is possible for us to be an encourager in the body of Christ to the glory of God!  Selah!


In what ways, have you or do you plan to encourage others?  How have others encouraged you?  I welcome your thoughts and insights here.