To succeed in life, you need more than mere skills or technical abilities. Success is good relationships. Pay close attention to your relationships and build them with utmost care. Because if you excel in dealing with other people, you will excel in life.

Also, you don’t necessarily have to be social to excel in relationships. As a matter of fact, most people that are social are not strategic in their relationships. This may surprise you, but that’s the truth. Sociable folks don’t particularly do better than others in relationships.

Life and relationships are like a jungle. And it is important that you know how to navigate the jungle of relationships so you can succeed in life.

“I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
~ Matthew 10:16

Let me rephrase the above instruction of Jesus for your benefit:

“Life – including relationships – is like a jungle.  And it is important that you know how to navigate the jungle of life. I have been with you for a while. I’ve taught you to love one another, to put one another first, to not be greedy or selfish. So you are a certain kind of person because of the things I have taught you.

It is okay to practice what I’ve taught you among each other. But now, I am sending you into the world and you need to understand the nature of the world. The world is a tough place, so I’m actually sending you like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves. Don’t be a lamb in the world. If you’re as docile as a lamb in the world, the wolves will devour you. It’s a rough world out there.

You are lambs because of me. In my presence and in the company of one another, you are sheep. But when you go out into the world you are going to be in the midst of wolves. Therefore, you need to become as shrewd as snakes – that’s how to function in the world.”

The world, its people and relationships are like a jungle. As a Christian, when you come into the church, you meet folks who are afraid of God. You interact with people who are sensitive to God. You meet folks who don’t want to do the wrong thing. The world is definitely not like that; it is a rough and tough place. So Jesus says that some sort of metamorphosis ought to take place when you get out there.  You shouldn’t be a lamb in the world, rather be as shrewd as a snake!

Memory Verse:
Matthew 10:16
“I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Prayer: 
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your counsel regarding relationships. Please enable me through your eternal Spirit to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.