“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

Do you think that maybe, just maybe our finding fault with our Christian friends, our local church, the Church is by design? Not the plans of our Creator because those plans went awry when sin slipped in through Adam and Eve that now rages in all humanity. Choice! Our choices determine our destiny. Our destiny is often determined by those we surround ourselves with and allow to pour into our lives.

Can I encourage you that if you desire to be less cynical, spend less time with cynical people. If sarcasm permeates your thoughts, remove sarcastic people from your life. There seems to be a basic human desire to help lift people out of where they reside, when the reality is that most times the result is being pulled down into their environment. God does not call us to ‘fix’ things, but rather live lives that reflect His light, that draws people to Him because of their desire “to have and experience what forgiven people should always reflect. Hope. Love. Joy. Purpose. Peace. Discipline. Light.

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)

I don’t think there are many verses in the Bible that people I know want to rationalize more than 2 Corinthians 6:14. Why? I believe God’s children are inherently good and have a desire for others to experience the ‘good’ that they have found. We want to lead others to what we have found when we are told to reflect Christ. A moth is not led to a flame, rather is drawn to a flame.

We are very involved and active in our kids lives. We want to know their friends. We want to know their prospective friends hearts. We are vocal with our kids about their friend choices because we know these choices have profound impact in the short and long term. We are not helicopter parents, trying to shield our kids from pain or hurt. We approach our involvement in our kids lives with the recognition that we have been entrusted our kids by the Creator of all, who expects us to guide them, be involved with them, and reflect Him in how we act, talk, walk and who surround ourselves with. Being on guard against unequally yoked people is not a rejection, it is obedience.

Take the pressure off and live the life daily that you have been gifted as God’s daughter or son. He’ll do the rest while you rest in his arms.

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