Have nothing to do with them

Growing up, there were friends that I had that my parents always let me hang out with and friends that they were always a little bit indifferent about. At the time I never understood why that was the case.

I remember one time in 7th grade there was this dude that I started hanging out with around school. He was cool with me and it seemed like we were really good friends. We were just school friends, we had never seen each other outside of school. One day I asked my parents if he could come over to our house and they said no, at the time I was so upset. I don’t think I talked to my parents for the rest of the day.

A couple days had finally passed and my parents told me that they didn’t want me to have anything to do with that kid. Which sounds harsh, but it’s really not. The Bible talks about how there are people out there that we should have nothing to do with.

I am sure we have all had those people that we spent time with but it probably wasn’t the best use of our time. Mainly because those people were horrible influences. The things they said, did, and thought were contagious. At certain points in our lives it’s easy to conform to those people and their ways.

My belief is that our conforming nature comes from us not being confident in who we are in Christ. That’s where insecurities come from. We conform to fill the gaps that we are lacking because we don’t really know how else to feel fulfilled.

I’m telling you though, once you understand the fulfillment we can feel from Christ it becomes so much easier to not conform to the ways of the world. I am not saying that I am perfect and make the most perfect decisions all the time, but I understand what the right thing to do is and what is honoring and pleasing to God. I strive to do those things because I know that the fulfillment I have through Christ is all that I need. I don’t need the approval of others, I don’t need things to make my happy, I don’t need short term pleasures, I have experienced the fullness of a God to the best of my understanding and that is enough for me! My prayer is that you will begin to feel that as well!

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

We are not supposed to have anything to do with these sorts of people. We will miss out on so many things when we think that those are the people that we need to be around. It’s not cool to be any of those things from the verses above. It’s actually pretty dumb. What’s cool is standing up what you believe in and having complete confidence in Christ. It might stink to not be like everyone else sometimes, but deep down those people notice you doing the right thing and admire you for it, they just don’t quite understand it yet.

Some people might argue and say that those might be the people we need to be around to witness to the most, which is partially true but the Bible also says this: all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

All scripture equips us for every good work. If the word of God instructs us to having nothing to do with such people , I am going to be obedient and have nothing to do with them. I will do this. I will pray for those people because they need our prayers. We can’t change others, only God can them and he listens to our prayers.

I encourage you to not conform to this world and to stand up for your belief in the fullness that Christ has to offer.