Little Green Army Men

 

This past weekend I had the privilege of being a leader on our youth group's fall retreat.  While on the retreat the opportunity was given to me to lead two of the four talks.  These two talks were unique in that they were separated by sex.  I was given the chance to speak to 12 High School men.  The theme of the weekend was Relationships.  I decided to speak about what our relationship looks like with other men.  I used the example set forth by the Marines, and other military branches.  Marines have each others back.  It does not matter what else is going on, when Marines enter a fight, they need to trust each other for support and protection.  I applied this same principle to living life as a young Christian man.  No matter how much we dislike each other, or don't get along, when the fighting gets tough, we need to be able to count on each other.

I used passages in Proverbs which stood out to me in my reading of the book over this fall.  The message really flowed out of three verses:

Proverbs 18:24, "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother"

Proverbs 27:6, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses"

Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens a man."

These verses speak to how we need to surround ourselves with people who support us and encourage us.  But these people also need to have the freedom to critique our actions and call us out when we are being unwise.  I have become really convicted by these passages.  I do not allow myself to be fully open with many people.  And to those I am open with, I do not share everything.  As a result of this talk, I have been more open with those who are closest to me.  I do give them the freedom to speak into my life as well.

How about you?  Who do you surround yourself with?


In His service, Crazy Pete