Proverbs 6:6 tells us to consider the ways of the ant and gain wisdom. Wisdom…from ants? We humans usually think we have wisdom on lockdown, but let’s do what the proverbs say and take a moment to observe. Have you ever been sitting at a summertime picnic, enjoying burgers and hot dogs (or a leafy green salad if you’re into that sort of thing), only to be attacked by a barrage of ants looking to pilfer your summertime treats like pirate booty and abscond with them to their tiny yet intricate ant abodes? How do these little insects do it?
Ants understand the power of community. Where there is one ant, there are plenty more ants to follow, and ants firmly believe in leaving no other ant behind. These tiny, industrious insects do everything in community—eat together, live together, work together. Ants, in all of their smallness, understand the power of community.
No, we are not ants—but we do have something in common with them. Like ants, the key to our thriving is community unified by righteous drive found in Christ. Godly friends don’t lead others into danger or a ditch. Proverbs 12:26 puts it this way, “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” In the same way that ants lead each other one by one to the delicious picnic morsels, godly friends walk in the same direction—toward the upward call of Jesus (Philippians 3:14). He’s the motivation. He’s the prize. Hebrews 12 describes the Christian life as a race with Jesus as the goal—and as we run, we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
If words can form a pathway for our friends, godly friends pave that path with truth. In a famous scene from the film “A Few Good Men,” Jack Nicholson as Colonel Nathan R. Jessup shouts from the witness stand, “You can’t handle the truth!” Sometimes, we withhold the truth in attempts to spare our friends and loved ones, or even to save ourselves. That is not righteous honesty. We always lovingly speak the truth because how can we be righteous guides if we are dishonest? Withholding the truth creates opportunity for strife and separation. Righteous honesty is always part of loving well.
When we are Christ-centered friends, we encourage others to pursue abundant life by cheering them on to pursue Jesus, and offering truthful compassion. How privileged are we to get to walk with friends and witness the will and presence of God in their lives?
Hanging around with a person like that will slowly yet quickly suck the life right out if you. Before you know it you will wake up one day and not recognize the person you see in the mirror. You won’t remember how you got there and you will feel so scared and alone. How can you get back to who you once were? Is it even possible? You don’t even know who you are and the people who did, well you cut them off long ago…why? Well because this person stole you. Kept you hidden and torn away from all that made you…..well you. They beat you up and tore you down….broke you down so you didn’t feel comfortable in your own skin. You couldn’t even navigate through basic daily tasks without feeling scared or like you needed this persons help. Because they broke you slowly down and and made you think family was bad for you and friends were bad to you. Put the guilt trip on you so you could only have time for them nothing that defines you like sports and art and nature. Nothing that made you unique and strong. It was all part of their attack. Their game to slowly kill me and quickly make me their pawn. Isolation. They isolated me like a true predator. But one thing about good family’s and friends and God himself…they always are waiting and willing to welcome you back. They long for that day. So I was rescued and saved once again. They help me find myself again. Home reminded me of who I was and who I am. God is good.
I learned that I need the Lord in my life. The Lord loves me for me. That is what family is. It’s real love that never wavers. When I am close to God, I am at peace. I am at my most true self. I feel the happiest. I love myself through and through and so I can love others.
Oh my word… LMC you are right on the money! The entire time I read your comment- all I could say was YES YES!! So true- isolation like a true predator and you don’t even see it coming.
Read your comments Kristen and Danielle. I totally agree.
I learned that the Lord uses the hurt I received in that association to teach me to trust my instincts and leave that relationship when my observations of that person tells me that they are not a follower of Jesus and/or they only have their self interest at heart. The person only continue to hurt me.
I learned that we are all unique and as such no matter how we wish to help others sometimes our help isnt what they need. It is also that we may not be able to give others what they need. Accepting this for me has been hard. I do have limitations and must not sacrifice myself to simply be able to say I tried. I’m imperfect and that’s ok.
Being in a not Christ-centred relationship was draining. I was not myself, I did things to impress this other person and moved away from the Lord to be more like her. But in the end he was there waiting for me. He put other people in my life that guided me back to Him.
Been down that road way more than I ever want to admit to myself. I actually wrote the same thing in my journal before skimming the posts. It was so easy to just follow the crowd and be like the world. But God was there making sure we made it through it to tell our story
When I was around a crowd that was not Christ-centered, I strayed from God. I knew I was wrong but I kept up with the crowd to be cool. It took me growing up and a few life knock-downs to come back to God. I learned God was still there after I strayed & will always be there for me!
How easily a person can be lead the wrong way
It’s kind of funny, ever since I accepted Christ into my heart, almost all of my friends are followers too. But prior to this, they weren’t & neither was I. Most of those relationships were filled with lying, cheating & stealing.
I learned through the many friendships that there’s a time to listen and a time to speak. Christ will give me the understanding and patience to where, little words spoken are enough…
I learned how easily influenced I can be if I am not on guard. And I also learned that the Holy Spirit will prompt me as a helper and friend when I may be in a danger zone.