Surround Yourself With Wisdom - March 25

Read Proverbs 13:20

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Reflect

Can you think of a time when you were influenced, either good or bad, by someone you spent a lot of time with? What were the circumstances? What did you learn?

You are who you hang out with. Have you ever heard that? You’ve probably experienced it first hand. And if you’re a parent, it’s probably one of your top concerns regarding your children.

Today’s proverb confirms that who we spend time with influences us. People who hang out with wise people become wiser still but people who hang out with fools can expect to suffer the consequences of joining in their foolishness.

Now, it’s important to remember that the wisdom literature of the Bible, like the Proverbs, are not promises, they are principals. That means that they are generally true statements. Is it possible to spend time ministering to someone who is not walking with the Lord and not have them drag you down to their level? Of course! But be careful! Still, it is generally true that the people we spend the most time with will shape our attitudes and our character the most.

The psalmist wrote: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). People who are wise and blessed do not spend their time seeking worldly counsel, they spend their time seeking the counsel of the Lord, found in His Word and through prayer. And, they surround themselves with other people who are doing the same thing.

One of my favorite things about the body of Christ is learning from each other. So, no matter where I’ve moved, one of the first things I look for is a Bible study community. It is a priority of mine to study Scripture with other women who also love the Lord. In my life, this proverb has proven true: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). I have been profoundly shaped and sharpened by the wisdom that other godly women have shared with me.

If you would be wise, surround yourself with other people who are wise. Find a biblical faithful church and attend it regularly. Seek out a small group Bible study, so that you can be encouraged, held accountable, shaped, and sharpened by other believers. Think about the media content you consume. Are you taking in a steady diet of godly wisdom or worldly wisdom? If you are taking in too much worldly media, make some changes to the songs you listen to, the books you read, the shows you watch, and the social media that you scroll through…Remember, whoever walks with the wise becomes wise. So, surround yourself with wisdom.

Respond

Lord, thank You! We don’t have to walk through life all alone. Thank You for the gift of community and the body of Christ. Thank you for those who shape and sharpen me. Help me to be a believer who sharpens others as well. Amen.

Reveal

When you are in community with other believers, do you openly share what God is teaching You through His Word? Remember, iron sharpening iron is a two-way street. You can reveal God’s wisdom to those around you, just as they share God’s wisdom with you.