The People in Our Lives

 

The previous blog entry made a point about the people with which we associate ourselves based on one of the proverbs, but it may be worthwhile to further explore the concept of our associations. Humans are social by nature. That is evidenced by the great civilizations that we have created throughout our history, several of which were mentioned as empires in the Bible (Egypt, Persia, and Rome). Even before big cities and nations became commonplace, humans still gathered in smaller hunter-gatherer type groups. The one constant is that humans prefer to be and work best together.

 

So, either as a result of the world in which we live or our very own natures, most people will have many other people playing a variety of roles in their lives. We all have families with which we share blood bonds and friends that lack the genetic connection but are just as close to us. We have associates with whom we have casual interactions and acquaintances who we met and interacted with in passing. On top of that, most of us have coworkers, business partners, fellow members of social organizations, and all manner of other connections. Those who believe in Jesus become part of the Body of Christ and essentially gain a second, spiritual family.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household - Ephesians 2:19

Not every relationship is the same. Some people play important parts in our lives and others, we just happen to know. So the question is, who should we let get close to us? Who should we really allow into our lives on more than an incidental level? Of course, the Bible has plenty to say in response to these questions. Here are just a few verses:

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,

or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. - Proverbs 22:24-25

 

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? - 2 Corinthians 6:1

 

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. - 1 Corinthians 5:11

 

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. - 2 Timothy 3:2-5

Right away, it seems that many of the Bible’s verses are more concerned with telling us who not to build associations with than who we should build associations with. Sometimes, this leads to Christians being seen as uppity because some Believers have used these verses to justify snubbing those they believe to be less righteous than themselves. That is not what the Bible is telling us to do though. The Bible is telling us that we should stay away from people who indulge in sin and seek those who also follow God. There is a reason for that.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” - 1 Corinthians 15:33

A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. - Proverbs 16:29

The Bible doesn’t dissuade us from dealing with certain people because we are better or higher than them. The Bible is telling us that, even as Believers, we are still vulnerable. As humans, we are basically sin addicts. Those addicted to alcohol and drugs are commonly advised to stay away from others who still cling to those addictions. The same is true for sin addicts, particularly when we first come to Jesus. Walking a righteous path is difficult. It may be impossible for those who remain close to other people that either intentionally or unintentionally entice them away from that path. We all need people that can help us and keep us accountable, and that means we need to associate with people who believe as we do.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

None of this means that we should have no associations with sinners or nonbelievers. After all, one of our primary charges as Believers is that we bring others to the Faith. We cannot do that if we alienate ourselves from those that do not believe as we do. Our mindset should simply be different when we deal with them. We should love them and act as examples of what a follower of Christ looks like.

 

People who are trying to overcome alcoholism often bring sponsors into their lives. A sponsor is usually someone who once dealt with alcoholism but was able to find sobriety. Those sponsors help the people still struggling to achieve their own success in the fight against addiction. Once we have reached a point where we are firm enough in our walks, we should act as sponsors to those who have not yet found Christ. That doesn’t mean we should constantly bash them over the head with the Bible, but it does mean offering the spiritual guidance and example that others need to make their own transition to believing.

 

Our connections are important and other people are important. It is good for us to build relationships, particularly friendships, with other people because those connections can enhance our lives. We just need to be responsible about the connections we make. We also need to remember that we have one friend that is greater than all others, and the Bible gives us clear instruction on how we show our friendship with him.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:12-15

 

Chris Lawyer

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