738) No one lives in a bubble. What we do and say always influences others. We can choose to use encouraging words or negative ones, and these words blanket those around us. We can decide to do something, positive or negative, and it also affects those around us.

This truth is illustrated in 1 Chronicles 11:16-19. Here we read that King David, whose army is nearby to their dreaded enemy, the Philistines, states how much he would like some water that was available only in this enemies’ territory. Three men decide to get it for the king. When they bring it back, David realizes how much danger his casual request had put these men in and he refused to drink it.

Can we control the actions of others? Of course not, but we need to be mindful that anything we say and do affects others.