The word select means “to carefully choose as being the best or most suitable.” The NFL season is close to kicking off and select is a crucial word used in most of the decisions made by franchises.
Owners select general managers, who select head coaches, who go on to select their assistants. The GM and coaches then select players to be drafted, to be signed, and to make the 53-man roster.
Every selection along the way creates a culture, a team identity, and a locker room atmosphere. Great selections lead to winning and bad ones can be very detrimental.
This past week and over the next few days, teams are trimming their roster down which means some guys will be cut or released while others are selected.
Of course, talent is important, but character issues and personality clashes can also be deciding reasons for a team to move on from particular players.
Coaches and GMs have to be aware and diligent as they make the tough choices to “carefully choose the best or most suitable” players for their team.
We can’t always choose our co-workers or neighbors or family members, but the people we select to spend the most time with can greatly affect many of the outcomes in our lives.
The friends, mentors, and people we surround ourselves with influence a “winning culture,” “team identity,” and “locker room atmosphere.”
Selecting people for our inner circle can either negatively or positively influence our thoughts, perspectives, and behavior. Our friends can drastically change the course of our lives one way or the other.
Wisdom for this is found in Proverbs 13:20 (ESV): “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Also, 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”
We must value our friendships and find people who build us up, help us grow, and are heading in a similar direction in life. Oftentimes, we have to make tough decisions to “release” those who bring us down and push us toward the wrong path.
Of course, we can still love them and cheer for them, but it might mean they can’t remain in our “locker room” any longer or we have to "cut" the amount of time we spend with them.
2 Corinthians 6:14 gives us this important challenge for our relationships and partnerships: “Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers . For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
Today, let’s be encouraged to select (carefully choose as being the best or most suitable) people that will inspire us to be more like Jesus and motivate us to greatness in all areas of life…just as we do for them.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please provide me with people I can trust, and who build me up and bring the best out of me. I want to select friends and mentors who give me wisdom and encouragement. Help me be strong as I move toward spending less time with people who drag me down. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
How do you determine who to select as friends?
Have you gone through the difficulty of “releasing” a friendship or partnership because your faith and values weren’t aligned?
How have valuable relationships/friendships changed your life?
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