What do we allow to shape us?
Daily Reading: Exodus 19, Psalm 69, Acts 25, Proverbs 10
The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 10: 8-14, 17-19
I once read a quote from Charlie “Tremendous” Jones 15 years ago that “you will be the same person in five years except the people you meet and the books you read”. I thought this made a lot of sense and I could see some real truth in that within my own life.
Fast forward to the world today.
With our easy access to the internet, television news, radio, podcasts, and social media, I think we have to edit that statement to say that “you will be the same person in five years except the people you meet and the media you consume”.
There have been many people I love and care about over the last 10 years that I lost touch with for a year or two, and can hardly believe the things I see them saying on social media.
It breaks my heart when I see people that I truly believe to be good people at their core, parroting things that they heard over and over again, even when I know that they go against so many things they once believed.
We truly are shaped by the people we surround ourselves with and the media we consume.
So what are we to do as Christians?
I love the wisdom in Proverbs today.
Here is my challenge for Christians throughout America in our modern world, let’s all strive together to be discerning.
Let’s all strive to consume less and think more.
Let’s have more in depth conversations and not stray away from important topics.
Let’s collectively increase each other’s wisdom.
I want to grow personally in so many areas of my life, and I hope everyone reading this blog would like to seek wisdom and growth in their own lives this year as well.
This year, when you are watching TV, reading an article, listening to a radio or podcast, or consuming information in some other way; run it through God’s filter. Run it through the lens of Proverbs above.
Is this person I am listening to spreading hate, lacking integrity, refusing to listen, causing grief consistently, and ultimately behaving like a “chattering fool” as described in Proverbs?
As Christians, let’s stop following these people. Let’s stop giving a platform to leaders in churches, politics, and the media that will profess to be Christian and yet behave the opposite.
A year from now, we are going to be the same person as we are today, other than the people we surround ourselves with and the content we consume.
It is time to turn the page and get back to wisdom. It is time we lean on God’s word again and not what television or radio personalities tell us to believe as Christians.
Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Let’s not collectively allow others to lead us astray this year.
There is never a shortage of charismatic voices that refuse correction, sow hate and discord, and use their power and platform to simply build themselves up.
Let’s be a collective body of Christ that embodies the correct side of Proverbs and seek after wisdom.
A year from now I want to look back at what I allowed to shape my personal growth over the last 12 months and see God’s fingerprints all over it!
Daily Reflection & Dialogue
If I have been subconsciously shaped over the last year by what I have consumed, what subtle ways might I have changed that are counter to the person I want to be and how can I rectify that in the coming year?
