In our Bible study yesterday, we looked at a question that we were asked during the weekend message: What content are we letting into our hearts? We were reminded of the importance of filling our hearts with God's word rather than the things of the world. Today, we will look at the second question we were asked during the weekend message: Who are the people we are allowing to speak into our hearts? Scripture makes it clear that the people around us greatly influence us, so we must guard our hearts and carefully consider the people we surround ourselves with.
Because of the influence others have in our lives, Scripture warns us to guard our hearts by carefully choosing whom we surround ourselves with. The apostle Paul said it this way: "Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33). The people we spend our time around impact us largely through the words they say, for good or bad. We often talk about how bad company negatively impacts us, but we do not as often think about the positive impact of good company. After all, if bad company corrupts, the opposite must be true as well. Good company builds us up. This truth prompts us to surround ourselves with positive influences in our lives who build us up. Proverbs 13:20 offers us this advice about who we surround ourselves with, "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." Once again, this verse reminds us that we become like those with whom we spend time. If we spend time with wise people, their wise words will impact us to make better decisions. If we spend time with foolish people, we will be negatively influenced by the foolish words they say.
Scripture makes it clear: if we want to live lives that honor Christ, we have to guard our hearts by surrounding ourselves with people who speak words of wisdom and life. Imagine the impact if we carefully guarded our hearts, allowing only wise people who point us in the direction of Christ to speak into our hearts. Will you commit to guarding your heart carefully, only allowing wise, Christ-like people to influence you?
Take a few minutes to think about the top 5 people you spend time with. List them out. How are these people positively impacting you? Is there any negative way that they are impacting you? Is there anyone you need to stop allowing to influence you? Commit now to surrounding yourself with the people who are positively impacting you and pointing you to Christ.
1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction. 2 Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. 3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. 4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. 5 The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace. 6 Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin. 7 Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. 8 The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. 9 The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. 10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. 11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. 13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. 14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death. 15 A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction. 16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. 17 An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing. 18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. 19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. 20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. 21 Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous. 22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly. 23 A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away. 24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. 25 The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
