I must say, with the prevalence of social media amongst other mass media platforms, we are constantly being bombarded with news and information of all sorts day after day. Not only that, but the people we come across and interact with at school, work, as we travel, the places we go and live, the environment we find our selves in whether physically or virtually all tend to have a way of impacting our minds, hearts and beings. I've observed that every person has there own perspective/worldview and their beliefs may be very different from mine own, while everything else tends to have its own energy and vibe.
Sometimes we may allow what we consume on social media or the news/information we receive to negatively dictate the way in which we operate or make decisions. For younger people, a few friends may tell them that gaining thousands of followers will give them importance and respect, or if they're not going to a certain place or listening to a specific type of music that they are lame and behind time. For adults, it may be that the life they see some of their co-workers living is flashy and far more interesting than theirs. But, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Yes, with all that's going on, indeed living in the 21st century sometimes can make holding our position in Christ and protecting our space quite challenging.
Nevertheless, bare in mind that this not to say that we aren't to use social media or interact with people because central to the Christian faith is loving God first, and then acting in love wherever he has placed us. But, let's also remember that whatever we allow within our environment and the way in which we respond to these things can truly affect our live's perspective and how we choose to live it.
So, examine a specific relationship in your life, it can be a friendship, work relationship or even an intimate relationship. Evaluate yourself before the relationship, and after haven met the person and building the relationship. Did your interest change in regards to what you watched, the events or places you went to, the music you listened to or even how you thought about things and the decisions you made? If so, have these choices made you better or worse off?
As you use this example to examine your life, i hope you are realizing two things which are possible:
1. You can become what you entertain, and
2. You can become what you dwell on.
Let us look at Proverbs 4:20-27 for a moment:
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
In this proverbs written by king Solomon (the wise king), a Son of David, he particularly designed this book to help especially younger people avoid common pitfalls and find the path to prosperity, health and security. We learn from these words in scripture that God wants us to pay attention to what he says regarding how we should align our hearts and whole body. This proverbs teaches us that our Heavenly Father is interested in all of us and what we do with our bodies. He wants us to turn our ears to hear His voice, to not let them out of our sight but to let our hearts dwell on them constantly, to guard our hearts at all cost, to keep our mouths far from corrupt talk such as gossiping and being envious of others, to fix our eyes on Him and His kingdom, and be careful where our feet carries us that we may stay out of the paths of the wicked.
A passage in Luke 11 also reminds us that "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness". In that, whatever it is that we find our selves being deeply acquainted with will soon determine the state of our whole beings, and how it looks- changing how we speak, think, reason, react, etc. We become what we fixate on. Much like the words of the apostle Matthew, "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:16-26.
However, what Christ is also showing us is that even our friends, families, work/school colleges have the ability to influence our choice of what fruit we want to bear. Being aware of the company we keep, even if we're unable to remove from that company such as at work, it is important what we allow to stay with us and impact our decisions, motives and actions. So choose your friends carefully, choose your partner carefully, choose even your entertainment wisely.
Examine scriptures and pray for wisdom from God on how to live life and how to select your company because Jesus cares about what we acquaint our selves with, essentially about what we allow in our space. He wants to guide our consumption and direct our hearts to what is fit to dwell on, on what will cause us to grow closer to Him. As you go about your day, reflect on 2 Corinthians 6:14, which reads, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" A yoke is a wooden beam that is wore between two oxen or other animals of the same size to carry a load together. What a disaster is would be if a fatten ox were to be paired with a puny donkey to carry a load on a long journey? They would probably never reach their destination, for their different sizes makes it impossible for them to stay the course as the beam leans towards the side of the puny donkey who inhibits the journey causing them to go in circles.
Well friend, this imagery is not quite different from one upright person who befriends a person who follows a path of wickedness (and yes, being unequally yoked can be demonstrated in all types of relationships), and allowing that person to influence your perspective. One person will ultimately lean towards the other's way of life and thinking.
However, there is Hope for the misled, for the lost and for the confused. You can regain your position in Christ and stay the course if you choose to daily guard your heart, and worship Him with your lips, eyes, ears, feet and your entire body. A body full of light and not darkness. (Proverbs 4:20-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 12:1-2)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, i pray that you allow your Holy spirit to counsel, and guide your son/daughter through your word and through your will. I pray that you may show them how to lead a life of light and not darkness, and that they may honour you with their entire being. Mighty God, daily cleanse their mind, body and soul and keep their eyes fixed on you as you teach them to guard their hearts from every crippling and destructive figure in this world that may keep them away from you. Amen.
Bonus Scriptures:
Philippians 4:6-9
Colossians 4:6
Bonus Song:
(Johnathon McReynolds- Make Room)
N.B: I do not own rights to this song.
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