Who Surrounds Us?

The people we choose to surround our lives with who will give us counsel and provide direction is an important decision to make. If we are insulated by the words and impressions of foolish people, we will be led away into error. This applies to all relationships and positions of authority. Proverbs 25 offers us insight into what this means.

Surrounding ourselves with people of wisdom and honesty is a safeguard. If we discover someone is not wise and honest, we don’t throw them away, but we must remove them from a place of authority in our lives. We are the only one who can make such a decision. It requires setting just boundaries that must be in place for our protection, “Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice” (vs. 5).

If we have allowed ourselves to be insulated by people who fail to tell us the truth when we need it most, they will bring a wrong spirit into the relationship. They will not revive our spirits when we are down, “Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer” (vs.13).

Unwarranted praise of our life is like overeating and gorging ourselves. “Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!” (vs.16) To surround ourselves with people who will hold us to a diet of integrity will keep our spirit fit when the temptations of life come and invite us to a meal that will be harmful to our spiritual life.

Purchase Garris’s book Prayers from the Throne of God here.

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins

Featured Image by Arthur Poulin on Unsplash

About the Author

Garris Elkins is a Kingdom Winds Contributor. He and his wife, Jan, serve the global Church through writing, speaking, and mentoring. They live in southern Oregon, tucked away in the foothills of the Rogue Valley. Their shared desire is to have each person learn how to hear the heart of God and become a transforming voice in their culture.

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