Who we choose to spend our precious time matters in life. In our communities (those we hang around) there should be Christ’s led intentions, plans, as well as reflections of his nature. For our benefit it matters to God however, it should matter to us.
First of all, let’s look at how valuable time is...
1. You can’t go backward: God can redeem the time however, what we make of our time is totally up to us. “He redeems” the time refers to stewarding our time in a way that glorifies God. (Compelling truth)
2. What you do with your time makes a difference: (Eph 5:14-16) “Look carefully (living life with honor, purpose, and courage: shunning those who tolerate and enable evil), not as the unwise, but as wise (sensible, intelligent, discerning people) making the most of your time on earth, because the days are filled with evil.”
3. Time is of the essence: We are here a limited time to complete the assignments on our lives and leave a legacy for our children’s children.
“Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more.” (Psalm 39:4)
Who you are with goes deeper than you think. See, being yoked with someone is being attached, or bonded with that person.
A yoke is explained as a crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.
The word of God advises us, “Do not be yoked with unbelievers” (2 Cor 6:14-15)
It’s important and crucial who you surround yourself with, and the company you keep. There are influences that we need to be aware of that shouldn’t be in our midst.
Some people don’t have the capacity you have to carry what God has called you to carry. They just aren’t a part of your destiny.
Bishop Bronner teaches people do one of three things they’re like elevators:
1. Take you up
2. Take you down
3. Get you stuck
The above is a great tool to determine how you can judge the significance of your own relationships. And, how they will affect your future. See, the Bible mentions
several scriptures on the company we keep.
“Do not be deceived. Bad company ruins good character” (1Corth15:33)
“Whoever walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. What fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2Corth6:14)
Another reason is, we take on the character of the person (people) we are with.
The influences are real and have the potential to change who we are and hope to become. Many times, people who don’t have the same standards will and can be persuasive in convincing you to lower your standards.
The influences around you really matter.
I’ve heard it said like this,
“show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
See, we think we have the ability to change others, which is not truth. We can sow seed and pray for the harvest for people. However, we can’t actually change
a person, as a matter of fact that’s too much to ask of ourselves. Inevitably, we take God’s position in doing the changing. We are used of God as his hands; his
feet and his voice which means we go where he directs, saying what he wants touching the lives of those he has already opened their heart to receive from him.
Ultimately, it is all his doing!
“We are seed sowers, someone may sow, others may water, however, it is God who makes it grow. For we are co-workers with God’s service; you are God’s field,
God’s building.” (1Corth3:6-9)
Lastly, there are times when we are acting out of character because of the company we keep. You may wonder why people who love you are acting different
toward you and responding to you differently. Often, the people closet to you recognize your behavior is different before you do. There are those who don’t
have much expectation of you, therefore you are compromising who you are to hang around them.
Then. the fact is you are being influenced.
An example could be gossiping too much, talking too much about things that aren’t important. This is a big one, involved with someone sexually and not married to that person. These are mere examples of situations which will change your behavior.
You may think gossiping isn’t a bad thing, well I beg to differ. See, gossiping takes you down a road that leads to “rotten thinking” which gets in your heart and
festers. When we gossip, we open ourselves up to thinking badly of people while yoking ourselves with people who are stuck in “sticking thinking”.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those
who listen.” (Eph 4:29)
“Believers do not speak against or slander one another. He who speaks [self-righteously] against a brother or [a] judges his brother [hypocritically], speaks
against the Law and judges the Law. If you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge of it.” (James 4:11)
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph 4:29)
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James1:26)
Lastly, dealing with people sexually (other than husband or wife) is called a soul-tie. Soul-Tie is an emotional tie to someone. See, the soul is made up of the mind, will and emotions. When people indulge in sexual relations the result is an emotional tie that connects, therefore connecting the will (desires) and mind (thought life). Basically, there are spiritual connections that take place and it’s not Godly. You may wonder, why am I acting out of character, not like myself.
Well, there is a soul-tie that has taken place which causes you to take on the character of the person you have connected with sexually.
(Genesis 2:24) states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
(1 Peter 2:11-15)
“Dear brothers, you are only visitors here. Since your real home is in heaven, I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for
they fight against your very souls.”
“YOU use to be “-
Sweet, kind, loving, considerate, giving, loving your family, supportive, thinking of others, all the Christ like characteristics, and suddenly, you’re acting mean and
ugly, disrespectful, inconsiderate, angry, secretive, uncommunicative, distant, manipulative, rebellious, and disobedient. Not to mention the unexplainable bouts of sadness, anxiety, and overwhelming feelings.
These are all spirits, and you wonder why you’re out of sorts, well the reason could very well be you have taken on the character of who you with.
Let me share with you a couple (more) scriptures:
(1 John 5:19) “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.”
(Proverb 1:10-19) “My son, my daughter, if sinners entice you, do not consent”
Do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths. They’re racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.
Nobody robs a bank
with everyone watching,
Yet that’s what these people are doing—
they’re doing themselves in.
When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens:
the more you get, the less you are.”
Ps. Last thing, for real this time… Don’t get upset or mad with those who love you and are speaking truth. Try your very best to hear them out and don’t dismiss what they’re saying to you. They may be seeing something you aren’t aware of which can save your precious time, energy, and heartache.
Pray with me:
Oh, sweet Father, we thank you for this revelation on taking inventory on who we are with. We’ve allowed people around us to influence us in ways that aren’t
pleasing in your sight. And we ask for your forgiveness in these areas. Even if we ourselves have been not so good of an influence, please cleanse our hearts and
minds. Do a work on the inside of us that will reflect your glory. Help us to release those in our life who are not good for us, nor for where you are taking us. I pray for those who we have accepted as our friends or been in intimate relationships, remove those that you haven’t ordained for our life. We ask of you to make us holy as you are holy. Allow your cleansing virtue to remove every soul-tie anywhere we have entangled ourselves with something or someone. And do what only you can do bringing them into the knowing and growing knowledge of you. Allow the separation from people who shouldn’t be in our life smooth. If there is pain endured in these ties being severed, please walk with us providing peace and comfort.
In Jesus name, Amen
