How can we apply Joshua 23:12 in choosing our close relationships? Setting the Scene “For if you ever turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.” Key Insights from the Text - “Cling” pictures a tight, covenant-level attachment, not casual contact. - The warning is relational: who you bind yourself to determines whether you keep enjoying God’s victories or become ensnared. - God’s people were not called to isolation from the world but to refusal of intimate partnerships that would pull their hearts from Him. Principles for Choosing Close Relationships - Spiritual alignment matters most. 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” - Character is contagious. 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” - Compromise begins with closeness. Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” Practical Guardrails - Identify “cling-level” ties: marriage, dating, business partnership, best-friendship, mentorship. Reserve those for believers pursuing Christ. - Weigh influence more than intention: Who shapes whose thinking, habits, speech? - Watch for subtle erosion: humor that mocks holiness, entertainment that normalizes sin, advice that sidelines Scripture. - Keep accountability alive. Invite mature believers to speak into relationship choices. Steps for Building God-Honoring Connections 1. Pray before you bond. Proverbs 3:5-6. 2. Look for fruit, not just profession. Matthew 7:16. 3. Choose companions who draw you to Scripture, worship, service. Hebrews 10:24-25. 4. Invest in church community; shared mission accelerates healthy friendship. Acts 2:42-47. 5. Set clear boundaries with unbelieving acquaintances—listen, love, witness, yet guard heart-level intimacy. Balancing Separation with Mission - Jesus calls us “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt must contact meat to preserve it, yet remain distinct or it loses power. - Engage the lost relationally without “clinging” in ways that compromise obedience. - Let kindness open doors while holiness sets limits. Encouragement to Stand Firm Psalm 1:1-2: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Hold fast to God first, and He will safeguard your heart, bless your friendships, and keep you fruitful in the good land He has given. |
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