who we choose to associate with makes a drastic influence on how we behave. You’ve probably heard the verse “bad company ruins good morals” (1st corinthians 15:33). Bad influences start to slowly shape our thoughts and actions. Sometimes so slowly, we don’t even recognize it’s happening.
My husband and I live on an acre of land. That being said, we have to do yard work quite often! One day as I was pulling those pesky little weeds, I began thinking about how weeds were a lot like bad influences.
Yes that’s right. Today I am going to compare weeds & bad influences.
Bad Influences & Weeds Look Pretty
some weeds are especially beautiful, like dandelions and daisy’s!
The appearance of these weeds are beautiful, but they serve no purpose. They can even replace the good plants.
This can easily apply to our lives! Sometimes the bad influences in our life look really, really good. We are naturally drawn to them, just as someone is drawn to make a wish on a dandelion!
The outward appearance means nothing. Don’t be fooled by the appearance. Once you are drawn in, they will slowly replace your good soul and make it seem as if it was never even there.
Proverbs 31:10: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Bad Influences & Weeds Spread Like Wildfire
Just as weeds consume your yard and garden, bad influences begin to consume most people they become friends with.
There is a reason that the bible warns us about their charm. The writer of Galatians was right when he stated “A little leaven leavens the whole lump”. Just a little bit of bad influence can turn into a whole group.
Because of this, we must always be on guard. Can you believe that only just a little bit of bad will consume A LOT of good? Once most of the good is consumed, just imagine how fast it will spread then.
We must remain strong as Christians and stop the bad influence chain.
Pull the Bad Influence Out of Your Life
Just like we pull weeds out of a garden, we must pull out the bad influences from our life “lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare” (proverbs 22:25).
If you have ever pulled weeds out of your yard or garden, you know that it is hard work. It’s just a big mess & can be overwhelming.
but the end result is worth it
Once you have worked HARD to pull out the weeds, you can ENJOY the vegetables that grow in your garden or the flowers you have planted in your yard.
Just pull out the bad influences! Get the hard part over with so that you can live as you were made to live in God.
Once the Weeds are Gone
Once you get rid of the bad influence… INFLUENCE THEM!
Once you are filled with what God wants you to be filled with, you can be an influence far greater than what they ever offered you. They will be able to see your good works that are pouring from your beautiful heart and say “i want that life too”!
What a great inspiration and a push to be better! Don’t follow the influence, BE the influence!!!
Christ says “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”
It’s just an amazing thing.
Choose to be the influencer, not the influence.
