As someone who is getting their degree in education, you finish your final semester by completing a student teaching assignment in a local school. This is good for a variety of reasons, but one of the best parts is that you are assigned to a veteran teacher (hopefully a good one) and that person can give you all the tips, tricks, and other things they have learned through their time in education. I can remember during my student teaching process, hearing all sorts of advice from my assigned teacher, but also just other educators in the school system. There were some things that were funny like “when you have your first middle school classroom, don’t let the kids see you smile until Thanksgiving.” While they didn’t really mean that, they were referring to the importance of setting classroom management. Another was, “make sure you are kind to the secretary and the janitor, they really run the school.” But there was one serious one. They said, “be careful what other teachers you surround yourself with. If you go to the teacher’s lounge at lunch and it’s all negative talk, avoid the lounge.”
It is important who you surround yourself with. This can be true in a job environment and also just in your personal life. Who you surround yourself with can have a huge impact on your life. Hang around a group of people who are complaining about their job and soon your mindset will start to shift about your job. Hang around people who are complaining about their church and soon your mindset will start to shift about your church. This is true in basically any area of our lives.
In the book of Numbers, the Israelites had just been freed from the slavery of the Egyptians and had started their journey to the Promised Land. God had provided them manna every day as food for their trip. Every morning, they would wake and find that He had provided manna for them to use for their sustenance for the day. But being delivered from slavery and provided with food every day was not enough.
“Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. ‘Oh, for some meat!’ they exclaimed. ‘We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever eat is manna!’” Numbers 11:4-6
What’s crazy is that this foreign rabble didn’t even have to leave Egypt. More than likely they were not in the bondage of slavery, but chose to join the Israelites on their journey. But here they are and now they are dissatisfied. And what do they do? They complain. And what does that lead to? The people of Israel complaining. These people who had just been freed from slavery are now complaining. God had saved them from a life of bondage and now they are more worried about what they are eating than the freedom they have.
Who you surround yourself with can make a huge difference on your outlook for the day, week, situation, etc. Hang around complainers and become a complainer. Hang around uplifters and become uplifting. Be a positive influence for others and surround yourself with those heading in the same direction. And when necessary, avoid the lounge.
This devotional was written by Amy Carrico of Making the Moments Matter. Click HERE to follow her on Facebook!
Last Updated on March 10, 2025
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