Yesuus

The need for connectedness (2)

“Anyone who does not love remains in death.” 1Jn 3:14 NIV



There is a direct link between your health and your relationships. When you’re disconnected and isolated from others, you’re two to five times more likely to die than people with close ties! Even people with bad habits like smoking, overeating, and physical inactivity—but who remain socially connected—live longer than people with great health habits but who are isolated. We see the physical, life-giving power of connection in the life of Winston Churchill. He had a wonderful marriage, was deeply connected to his family, his friends, his nation, and his work. But his health habits were terrible. His diet was awful, and he constantly smoked ci**rs. He drank too much, had weird sleep habits, and was completely sedentary—yet he lived to ninety years old. That reminds me of the newspaper reporter questioning an old man about his longevity: “I suppose it’s because you take systematic exercise.” The man quipped, “The only exercise I take is acting as a pallbearer to my friends who have indulged in strenuous exercise!” (Note: We’re not condoning bad habits!) God said, “It is not good…to be alone” (Ge 2:18 NIV), because when you’re alone, you’re more likely to succumb to temptation and discouragement, become self-absorbed, and spend money in selfish ways. Not only do you suffer, the people God put in your life get cheated out of the love He intended you to share with them. You say, “But I’ve been hurt by people.” We all have. But just as the answer to a snakebite is snake venom, the answer to bad relationships is good relationships. And God has some in store for you—so talk to Him about it today.

Build your life on God’s Word

“The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 1Sa 16:10 NLT



David had seven brothers. When it came time to pick a king to replace Saul, Samuel thought any one of them would make a better king than David. But God rejected all seven.
Why? Because:

(1) They had the looks but not the spiritual core. God explained to Samuel, “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7 NLT). David’s spiritual core was formed by years spent with God. His heart’s cry was, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God” (Ps 42:1 NKJV).

(2) They had no personal experiences with God to fall back on. The lion and the bear were big, and Goliath was bigger yet. But David wasn’t intimidated. “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and…the bear…will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1Sa 17:37 NKJV). There are no insignificant battles. The little ones equip you for the big ones that shape your destiny, so stand on your “God experiences.” How you respond in a crisis is determined by the experiences you have had with God.

(3) They were easily influenced by others. David’s brothers allowed the fears of those around them to erode their faith. Fear is contagious; if you listen to it long enough, you will get infected. No, you shouldn’t be isolated from the world, but you must be insulated against its negative influences. Listening to Goliath frightened David’s brothers, but it didn’t frighten David.

So who are you listening to today? Get God’s opinion and build your life upon it; allow His Word to settle every issue.