Jesus increased socially and so should you!
“And Jesus increased… in favor with man…” (Luke 2:52d) “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b NIV)
Favor with man – Socially
Over the last three days I pointed out that according to Luke 2:52, as Jesus grew from a child into an adult, He increased in four distinct areas of His life: 1. Wisdom (mentally), 2. stature (physically), 3. favor with God (Spiritually) and 4. favor with man (socially).
Jesus was a perfect example of living a perfect balanced life. And, we should also increase in all four of these areas.
Yesterday I discussed the third area, favor with God, which is spiritually. Today will be the fourth one, “favor with man” which is the social area.
We are social creatures
We need others and they need us. God made us that way. He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Gen. 2:18). He created Eve for that reason.
In life, there are people we must be around in the course of daily life and there are close friends we choose to be around.
Bad friends can drag you down
You can’t always choose who you must associate with on a day to day basis, but you can choose your close friends. Choose wisely!
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Prov. 12:26)
“Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (2 Peter 3:17)
Good and faithful friends speak truth into your life
“Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Prov. 27;5-6)