Having a Positive Relationship With Others

A positive relationship with others (Prov. 3:27–35) is a blessing the believer enjoys when he or she walks in the wisdom of God. Wise Christians will be generous to their neighbors and live peaceably with them (vv. 27–30), doing their best to avoid unnecessary disagreements (Rom. 12:18). After all, if we truly love God, we will love our neighbors as we would want them to love us.

On the other hand, if our neighbors are perverse persons who scoff at our faith (Prov. 3:31–35), the Lord will guide us in letting our light shine and His love show so that we will influence them but they won’t lead us astray. Sometimes it takes a great deal of patience, prayer, and wisdom to rightly relate to people who don’t want Christians in the neighborhood, but perhaps that’s why God put us there.

It’s possible to have a godly home in the midst of an ungodly neighborhood, for God “blesses the home of the righteous” (v. 33, niv). We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and one dedicated Christian in a neighborhood can make a great deal of difference and be a powerful witness for the Lord.

It’s true: "The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous" (Prov. 3:33, niv).

Read: Proverbs 3

Action assignment: Are you on the outs with anyone? If so, ask the Lord to give you the courage to know how to establish a positive relationship with that person. If you have no such problem, simply reread today’s reading and pray that you can be salt and light in your neighborhood, among your family and friends.