Becoming Wise

There is a saying, “tell me who your friends are, I can tell you who you are”. It is so true that our associations can make us or break us. God’s Word instructs us to spend time with wise people so we gain wisdom. Moving with Godly people, watching and listening to them, we get the practical lessons of Godliness.

Walk with God

God is all wise and the source of all wisdom. Walking with Him is the best way to become Godly. When we start obeying Him and imitating Him we will develop His character traits. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, we read in Proverbs 1:7. In James 1:5 we are told to ask God when we need wisdom for our daily lives.

Walk with Godly people

Its true, in our life time we cannot avoid relationships with people of this world. But the quality of the relationship and the time we allot for it is what matters. When we spent more time with wise people, who don’t fool around with meaningless things, we will be influenced to follow their examples. Where as, when we spend a lot of time with people who are pleasure loving, immature, rude, impolite, hot tempered, abusive, addicted,aimless and negative, their nature will rub into us without our knowledge. So choosing to keep company with Godly people will help us in our character development. Remember, it’s always our choice, with whom we should spend time.

Keep our associations with ungodly people to the bare minimum, to only what necessity demands. Same time, think if we are worthy or not to give company to someone who is looking for a wise person.

Signs of the Times!

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
(2Timothy 3:1‭-‬5 NLT)

God’s Word said centuries ago that the end times will be perilous and difficult times. If we turn around we can see that we are living in difficult times. We see that people are utterly selfish. They love money more than anything else. Even within the family we see the result of selfishness. Children grow aimless, Godless and characterless. Elderly are left to struggle and suffer. These days for monetary gains we are ready to sacrifice relationships and principles.

We see that people are very boastful and proud. They are proud about their positions and possessions. They boast about their wealth, which is there today and can vanish tomorrow. People are too haughty so they put down and belittle others. They want fame, honour and glory for themselves. They don’t mind taking credit for what God is doing. They even blaspheme the name of God for the sake of social approval and political correctness. They will openly agree that all faiths are equal and you just need to be a good human being. They may go to the extent of bowing to every other deity.

People these days do not understand the meaning and essence of true love. Everyone talks about it. Counselors and gurus project love as the solution for the world’s problems. They conduct seminars on how to love others but people hate each other more than ever. Hate crimes are on the increase. People are revengeful and can not forgive others. Everyone is ready to return insult for insult and even assault for insult. Violence and crime are escalating day by day. Nobody hesitates to slander others. They carry tales to defame those whom they dislike. They don’t feel guilty at all. We burst out in anger with no self control and humiliate others in public. Brutality is what is seen depicted in the daily news.

Public opinion about what is good and bad, right and wrong has changed. People have started calling ‘good’ evil and ‘evil’ good. They can betray their own kith and kin without the slightest feeling of guilt. Those who dream of authority and power are often the worst traitors.

These are days of camouflage. You won’t know the real person until you get close enough. They appear pious and religious but they deny the truth. They don’t love and obey God but they pretend to be Godly and assume to be followers of Christ. They are pleasure loving and teach and preach what makes people feel good.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
(2Timothy 4:3‭-‬4 NLT)

Followers of Jesus are instructed to turn away from such people. Are we like these end-time-generation Christians who display a fake Christianity?

The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”
(Mic 6:8 CEV)

Addiction

• Are you addicted to anything?

• How can you show your maturity to your friends?

• Do we have any control over addictive behaviour?

Addiction is a behaviour that has become so habitual that you can not stay without it. In most cases, your body gets adjusted to this habit that you get severe discomfort when you try to discontinue the practice.

People give various reasons for their addiction, like, coping with failures and disappointments, overcoming tragedies, escaping feelings of hopelessness, etc. Some of these substances stimulate nerve cells to cause a pleasurable feeling. So once you start on one of these it will make you want more. Thus you are dragged into the habit.

People get addicted to various things, like food, drinks, intoxicants, entertainments, etc. It is our own choices that lead to addiction. It begins as an experiment or fun or prestige factor but it is always our choice that leads to a habit. You may succumb to peer pressure when you are challenged to prove your maturity or manhood. It is your choice whether to prove it that way or to show your maturity by deciding against it. If you want to experiment with some things like alcohol, tobacco or drugs, even after knowing the adverse effects of these things on your body, it is still your choice. Some people are exposed to these in homes as their parents or elders are addicted to the vices. They have chosen the way of destruction and you don’t have to choose the same. Some think it is ‘macho’ to be doing some of these things but it is foolish because of the ill-effects they will have on our body. If you think it is fashionable to have some of these habits, you are fooled. These habits will adversely affect your character and destroy your health.

Christians are admonished to stay away from addictions.

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life” (Eph.5:18 NLT).

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1Cor.10:31 NLT)

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1Cor.3:16-17 NLT)

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.” (1Cor.6:19-20 NLT)

So, as Christians we must make wise choices, choices that would lead to healthy habits and build Godly character.