๐งฎ Check Your Circle: Are Your Relationships Adding, Multiplying, Subtracting or Dividing? | Proverbs 27:17
๐ค What if you looked at your relationships like a math equation? โ Addition โ๏ธ Multiplication โ Subtraction โ Division
๐ It sounds funny, but it can reveal an important Bible Life Lesson about friendships, relationships, influence, boundaries, and spiritual growth.
๐ Proverbs 27:17 says: โIron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.โ
โ SOME RELATIONSHIPS ADD. These are people who encourage you, pray with you, listen, speak truth in love, and help you become stronger.
๐ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 teaches believers to encourage and build one another up.
๐คซ Ask yourself: Who consistently adds wisdom, encouragement, accountability, and godly influence to my life?
โ๏ธ SOME RELATIONSHIPS MULTIPLY. Consider Paul and Timothy. Paul poured into Timothy. Timothy was then instructed to entrust what he learned to faithful people who would teach others.
๐ 2 Timothy 2:2 That's spiritual multiplication. Healthy mentors, friends, leaders, and family members can sometimes see potential in us that we haven't recognized ourselves.
They don't simply applaud our gifts. They help us develop them.
โ SOME INFLUENCES SUBTRACT. There are also relationships and environments that can repeatedly pull us away from wisdom, integrity, discipline, peace, and our relationship with God.
๐ โBe not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.โ โ 1 Corinthians 15:33, KJV
But we need biblical balance here. This doesn't mean labeling everyone who disagrees with us as โtoxicโ and immediately removing them from our lives.
Jesus calls us to love. Scripture calls us to forgive. We're encouraged to pursue peace and reconciliation where possible. But Scripture also teaches discernment. Sometimes loving people wisely requires boundaries.
โ SOME BEHAVIORS DIVIDE. Gossip. Jealousy. Manipulation. Unnecessary...
๐งฎ Check Your Circle: Are Your Relationships Adding, Multiplying, Subtracting or Dividing? | Proverbs 27:17
