What do your closest relationships say about you?
The average of your 5 closest relationships...
What do your closest relationships say about you?
Your relationships shape who you are. The ideas you discuss, the values you pursue, the disciplines you reinforce all make an impact on you over time.
Jim Rohn, a motivational speaker, says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Rohn isn’t wrong. In fact, I've got a better source for his wisdom, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
It’d be wise for you to take time to consider the relationships that influence you and what impact they are having on you.
But, please, before you go analyzing the virtues and vices of your loved ones consider something with me…
What if your relationships reveal you as much as they influence you?
Your relationships reveal your true relationship with God.
If you want to see your love for God, look at your relationships.
Your true love for God is the average of the love for the 5 people nearest you (To turn Rohn’s phrase).
The ability to sacrifice for the best interests of others comes from God. When we lay our lives down for others, we show that God’s love has transformed our hearts.
On the other side, our struggle to love others demonstrates places where we need God’s continuing transformation.
Your love for God will be seen in your love for the real people in your life.
If your relationships are not marked by biblical love, you do not love God. You may love a god you’ve constructed that fits your own priorities and principals (idolatry). But you cannot hate brothers and sisters and pretend to love God.
Christian, your closest relationships tell you the truth about your love for God. What are they saying?
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 John 4:19–21