A Little Leaven

by Dr. Paul Chappell


"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not
of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."


Galatians 5:7-9


Even a little wrong influence can lead to devastating consequences.


A British newspaper was struggling financially. Readership was down, people were disinterested in
the paper, and many newspapers in the business had already shut down. The editor-in-chief of the
paper was a young, energetic man who had a passion for the newspaper. He often worked ninety hours a
week, devoting his whole self to the advancement of the paper. When notified that his paper would
soon be closed if revenues weren't increased, he brainstormed for a plan to stimulate interest in
the paper. Not long later, he came up with a brilliant idea. The paper would hold a contest. The
rules were this: the paper wanted readers to submit a story in which they came up with the
definition of a "friend." The winner of the story would have their entry printed, their picture in
the paper, and their definition submitted to a local publishing company to be included in a special
edition of a dictionary. Although his idea was a long stretch, he counted on the fact that people
would want to see their own picture in the paper, and would want their definition printed in the
special edition dictionary.


His idea was a hit. The contest ran for three weeks, but in the first week alone hundreds of
definitions were submitted. During the three weeks, readership increased by twenty percent, and
newspapers were flying off the newsstands. Everyone wanted to see if his definition had been
selected. At the end of three weeks, the newspaper narrowed the search down to these definitions:


"One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable."
"One who understands our silence."
"A volume of sympathy bound in cloth."
"A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down."


And the winning definition was "A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out."


While the newspaper's goal was to increase revenue, everyone who read the paper learned a great
truth-friendship greatly impacts people. Simply from reading the entries, one can deduce that the
writers had some personal experiences that affected their entries.


Friends play vital roles in our lives. Have you ever had a friend who knew just what to say in tough
times, or perhaps they were a kind listener on whom you could always count? Never take for granted
the influence of a friend.


Just as a friend can be a great influence for good, so a friend can influence for bad. Notice Paul's
question to the Galatians, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
The Galatians had begun listening to false prophets and soon they were being affected by their
doctrine. As Paul went on to say, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."


Your friends affect you either positively or negatively. In your Christian battle, your friends are
either strengthening you to fight the devil or they are weakening your defense. Which one are your
friends? Don't allow wayward friends to pull you down. God desires you to be friendly and kind to
everyone, yet only allow godly Christians focused on doing right to be your close friends.


Do you have godly influences as friends? Re-evaluate whom you allow to be your close friends. If
someone is not spiritually helping you, you need to break that friendship with him. Giving up that
friendship may be painful, but allowing them to adversely influence you will lead to greater
consequences.


If you have a godly friend who encourages you to do right, thank them! Let them know of your
gratitude for how they help you, and determine to be a godly encourager to them as well. Make sure
your friends are headed in the same spiritual direction as you.