“Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20
We Know This... Like me, you’ve been through MD5 and we should be actively working on becoming the man God wants us to be. We’ve heard about the pallbearer challenge. Most of us have been lucky enough to hear Roger say something along the lines of “you’re the average of the 5 people you hang out with the most.” In the friends “F” it was hit on pretty hard that God made us to thrive in a community of like-minded believers. If we read through the Bible, there are plenty of examples of good friendships and the blessings that flow from them: David and Jonathan, Paul and Barnabas, Timothy and Paul, Elisha and the Shunammite, Jesus and Lazarus are just a few examples. There are also examples of what happens when good people are corrupted by bad friends. See 2 Chronicles 24:17-18 in regards to Joash or 1 Kings 12 and the story of Rehoboam. Who we listen to and associate with plays a great role in who we become. What's Stopping You? The Bible shows it and we all know it, that life is better with good friends. So what’s stopping you from being around good friends more often? When was the last time you had a lunch or a breakfast with a friend just to catch up and pray for each other? The “Tyranny of the Urgent” wreaks havoc on our friendships. We can also be guilty of letting friendships linger that are pulling us in the wrong direction. What I've Learned Through MD5 and the Lab, I’ve come to see that spiritual growth is easier with other followers of Christ. And real growth happens in small groups of men holding each other accountable. A New Year Challenge Set a New Year’s goal in your life plan. Examine your friendships. Pray for God to draw you to other men on fire for Him and to steer you clear of men that aren’t. Work on the friendships that will draw you closer to God. Walk with the wise to become wise! So, set up at least one breakfast, lunch or coffee in January with a friend or two with the sole intent to sharpen each other.
Thad Hardin MD5 Lab Facilitator
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