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Influence.
We all seek to have it. And we’re all effected by the influence others have.
As a follower of Jesus, we should be influenced by the Bible and other believers seeking to follow the truth of the Bible. But even if we manage to not be of the world, we are in it. And we are influenced by the world around us. The first step to limiting this is to admit it’s true.
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” That may be a bit strong, but we are greatly influenced by the folks with whom we spend a lot of time. This idea is why it’s so important to spend time with others who follow Jesus. If we want His values in our life, we must cultivate friendships with like-minded people.
As the Bible puts it:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ~ Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
Another way our friends influence us is our marriage. A Pew Research study found that people were 75% more likely to get divorced if a friend or close family member divorced. Even divorce by the friend of a friend increased the risk of divorce by 33%. Granted, this is an average, but it shows the danger.
Again, the solution is to cultivate friendships with those who are living what we want in our lives. Hang with folks who openly love their spouse. If your circle of close friends included a number of divorced individuals, that is putting negative pressure on your marriage. I’m not telling you to kick friends to the curb, but consider how your friends are influencing you and make wise decisions.
BTW, if you or your spouse prefer to hang with divorced friends, that’s a red flag.
~ This is Paul, and Doing Marriage Well is bigger than you and your spouse.
Some folks brought their dogs to the coffee shop.
Widget would love to do this, but she doesn’t have the self-control for it yet.
Image Credit: © Paul H Byerly created with ideogram.ai & Paul Byerly
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