Who Influences You?

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. I Kings 21: 25

Ahab and Jezebel were wicked. There was no doubt that they both displeased God and they will each give their own account. As I read First Kings, I was more shocked at Jezebel’s rebellion than Ahab’s. I don’t know why that was, maybe because we are more shocked when a woman, someone God created to be a nurturer, can be cold and evil.

Each of us is responsible for ourselves, but who we associate with does influence our actions. I remember watching a movie year ago about two drifters who hooked up and began a killing spree. It was based on a true story. At their sentencing, the judge spoke about how that evil was in each of them, but had they not connected, it may have never surfaced. On the other end of that spectrum, I think of the four men in the Bible who removed a roof to get their friend to Jesus. Surely who you spend your time with matters.

My youngest son has always been the wisest of my children with his money.I am proud of that, but I realize his wife deserves some credit too. She has taken a favorable character trait he already had and encouraged and nurtured it.My middle son was still a young Christian when he met his wife, someone who was grounded in her walk already.He had already changed the people he hung around with, which was key in him getting grounded in his own walk when God blessed him with a wife who would continue that influence.According to I Kings 21: 25, Jezebel stirred up the evil that was already in Ahab.If your friends and acquaintances matter, how much more so does your spouse?Choose wisely.