Jared Allen – People Make a Difference

Imagine if someone walked up to you and said, “I’m going to give you more money than you ever dreamed of, absolute freedom in how you spend it, and oodles of time in which to do it.”

That’s pretty much what happened to me last spring when I was drafted into the NFL.

You may think having that much freedom is a good thing. After all, playing football for a living seems like a dream job, and in many ways, it is. But remove all of the normal restraints from your life—things like account-ability or lack of time and money—and you would be surprised at what comes out. Suddenly, you are confronted with the “real” you, and often, it isn’t pretty.

Thankfully, I have always had family and friends to hold me in check. That’s something I learned from reading the Bible—to surround myself with the right people. Jesus did that with his disciples. So did Paul and the other early Church leaders. Like the disciples, I still slip up from time to time, but God always uses the people in my life to keep me from going over the edge.

How about you? Have you surrounded yourself with the right people? You may not play in the NFL, but you still face temptations every day. So make sure the people in your life are those who can help you make it through such situations, not make them worse.

Do you need some checks in your life? Why not ask Jesus for help? A relationship with Him is the best relationship of all and He can help you build healthy relationships with others.  We encourage you to pray the following:

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Amen.

One Response to “Jared Allen – People Make a Difference”

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• MR says:

  February 14, 2011 at 3:36 pm

  Agreed. They say you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.