There is an old story about the wife who asks her husband, “Why don’t you play golf with George anymore?” “Would you play golf with a man who puts down the wrong score and moves his ball when you aren’t watching?” “No, of course not.” “Neither will George.”

What kind of person am I to be around? Do I make life more pleasant for others by my presence or more miserable? I think I would have liked to have been around Barnabas. He seemed to see the best in everyone, and was able to overlook a person’s past as is seen in his supportive attitude toward Paul and John Mark. He raised the quality of life everywhere he went.

Paul said in Romans 12:10, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” His admonition to Timothy was to “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). There are certain people in our lives who are just pleasant to be around. They make us feel better and to develop a more positive attitude just by their disposition. Retrace your steps for the past couple of days.

What kind of impact have I made on the people whose lives I touched? If I am the kind of person that others simply endure being around, perhaps I should reevaluate my relationship with Jesus Christ. Is He really at the foundation of my life? Is He really my shepherd as I live my life? Is He really the way in my life (John 14:6)? I can be the kind of person who is a shining light to everyone because of Jesus living in me (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13).

Kyle Campbell