Wise Surroundings

We are all influenced by the company we keep. Think about the different ways you act, joke, laugh, or speak when you are in the following places:

At home
At church
At work
At a family gathering
With friends from high school, college, or back home

There is no doubt that who we are around affects who we are. This is one reason God was so adamant that the Israelites remove the other nations from the Promised Land. The thought is very simple: Living among others often results in living like them.

Proverbs 13:20

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

Who are you walking through life with?

List the first 6 names that pop into your mind. With each name in your head, give them a wisdom score from 1–5.

• Would you want to follow this person’s path?

• Would you want this person making decisions in your life?

• Would you seek their advice or counsel on serious matters?

If you deem those closest to you as unwise, this needs to be a wake-up call. You need to consider who you surround yourself with and how they are influencing the direction of your life.

If you want to be wiser, surround yourself with wise people. Spend time in the presence of people who seek God, have their priorities in order, make wise decisions, and make you better.

Who is one person in your life that you consider wise?

Take time today to thank them for the wise influence they have had on your life!

Wisdom and foolishness are contagious. Which are you susceptible to catching?