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“If you hang out with five confident people, you’ll be the sixth. If you hang out with five religious people, you’ll be the sixth. If you hang out with five intelligent people, you’ll be the sixth. And, if you hang out with five idiots you’ll be the sixth. Your circle is everything. Who you surround yourself with defines who you become. So choose your circle wisely and watch yourself thrive.”

This quote is absolutely wonderful, true, real. It pains me that I struggle to find where this came. This quote has traveled many miles it seems and has been used in movies, speeches, social media posts, and more. Beautifully put and so true regardless of the original giver.

Your circle matters.

Growing up, I was often told to watch the company I kept. This is biblical. Paul informs the Church in Corinth: “Do not be deceived (or misled): Bad company corrupts good morals (or good character).” I add the (extra) as different translations word it differently and I love both.

Your circle matters.

If God tells the Corinthians through Paul that “bad company corrupts good character”…then good company builds even better character. The quote at the beginning this week is absolutely true! If you hang out with folks who are filled with confidence then by nature you begin to gain confidence in who you are. If you hang out with folks who are deep in their faith, who love studying the Word of God, who enjoy worship, who practice what they preach, who pray without ceasing…then you too will begin studying God’s Word more, worshiping more, praying more, growing deeper in your faith. If you spend time with those who are way more intelligent that you, you begin to grow in your intelligence. By hanging around those who are smarter, wiser, deeper than we are we begin to learn from them. We don’t throw in our two cents because we know we ain’t on their level. We are humbled. We are silent as we sit back and learn and grow. We…become like them.

Your circle matters.

I strived to pass this wisdom on to my children. No matter your age, no matter your education level, no matter your social economic status…you become what you hang around. If we desire to grow in our intelligence then we must hang out with people much smarter than ourselves. If we desire to grow in our faith then folks…you have GOT to hang out with folks with a deep faith. You can’t get to heaven on your grandma’s angel. You can’t ride your preacher’s coattails to Glory. You must grow and learn.

Your circle matters.

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com