I heard a humour which signposts something significant. A preacher asked married men who are not being influenced by their wives to signify by the raise of hands. One man signalled. Being curious, the preacher asked how he has been able to immune himself to the wife’s influence. His answer was interesting. He noted that it was his wife who asked him to raise his hand! The stark reality is that you cannot be in a relationship and not be influenced by your partner. On a general note, we are all a product of influence. How we dress and talk, our likes and dislikes, the places we visit and the things we do may all have been imbibed by observing others. Of course, we also influence others one way or another.

 On a general note, we are all a product of influence…Decide on the lifestyle you want, one that is pleasing to God, then let that guide you in choosing your circle of friends.

Israel did not just start murmuring in the wilderness. The Bible makes us know that they were influenced. A small unit of people served as the spark plug for that ill-conceived behaviour. “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?” Numbers 11:4 KJV. Different translations described the group as “foreigners”, “riffraff”, and “the rabble.” In the New Testament, we have express warning about association. One says that we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Another warns that evil association will corrupt good morals. All these testify to the popular saying that those who sleep with dogs will wake up with fleas. Decide on the lifestyle you want, one that is pleasing to God, then let that guide you in choosing your circle of friends.