Does your circle of influencers have positive core values? (112-4)

My mom had a thousand one-line sayings that have stuck with me over the years. One of them that I remember from about age 13 was, “You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends, but choose your friends carefully because you can’t pick your friend’s nose.” My mom had a memorable way of telling a 13-year-old that I had the ability to eliminate items from my person that were a problem or irritating but if my friend had a life issue, I would not be able to change them and it might influence me for life. The book of Proverbs says the same thing for adults, “A mirror reflects a man’s face but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses” Proverbs 27:19 (tlb). Wise leaders understand that positive or negative relationships will shape their leadership. Read 2 Chronicles 21.

Jehoshaphat is known as a godly king even with the weakness he displayed for unhealthy alliances. When he died his son Jehoram assumed the throne. Jehoram was one of the people directly affected by one of Jehoshaphat’s unhealthy alliances. Jehoram had an arranged marriage to Athaliah, King Ahab of Israel’s daughter. Ahab was one of the most evil kings ever to reign the Jewish people of the northern kingdom. Jehoram’s life shows the influence Athaliah had on his core values.

One of Jehoram’s first acts as king was to put his brothers to the sword. Ironic that worship of the one true God puts great value on human life but the worship of Baal, Athaliah’s god, puts little value on human life and even calls for child sacrifices to please Baal. Jehoram ruled for only eight years but in eight years virtually undid all the reforms of his father and grandfather. He aroused God’s anger. God had the prophet Elijah send Jehoram a letter detailing his sins and detailing how he would die from a horrible illness.

Jehoram’s legacy can be found in 2 Chronicles 21:20, “Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”

Jehoram was affected by his father Jehoshaphat’s tendency to form unhealthy alliances. It is clear that the ungodly influence of his wife and in-laws corrupted Jehoram’s heart and turned him away from the Lord. Wise leaders choose their inner circle of friends and influencers carefully.

Who is currently in your circle of influencers? Do they have positive core values? Are there relationships that would create shame for you should Jesus have dinner with you and that person tonight? Consider the life impact of this relationship to your leadership and values. Your assignment, ask God to help you see each of your relationships in your inner circle as He sees them.