Recently, one of my roommates introduced me to a wonderful church in our area, and after a hiatus from church-going, I feel compelled to continue attending this vibrant and energizing house of worship. The message presented last Sunday was inspiring and illuminating and had a clear theme:

 You’re looking for love in all the wrong places.

The discussion centered around the story of Isaac, who was looking for a wife. His family sent a servant to find a strong and devoted woman from a good family. They wanted someone who would work hard, be kind, and who would be willing to travel all the way back to Isaac and his family, demonstrating her faith and trust in God.

Therefore, the servant traveled to a village filled with good families, looked for women by the water who would be working hard to draw water for their families, and asked for a drink to test their kindness. One woman, from a good family, offered water to both the servant and all his camels, and later agreed to travel back to Isaac. This was, of course, Rebekah. The message highlighted at church was that,

 in order to find something you’re looking for, you need to go to the place it exists.

This message is not exclusive to romantic relationships. If you want to meet studious and introverted friends, go to the library, not the club. If you want to be challenged at work, go to a company known for developing its people, not somewhere that’s comfortable. If you’re feeling bored or uninspired, change up your social circle. And the church’s favorite – if you want to meet a Christian spouse, go to Church. There’re a million combinations of this, but at the root of it all, it’s a reminder that if you want something, you need to surround yourself with the people and environments that will help you obtain it.

It’s also a reminder that iron sharpens iron (Prov. 27:19). This is important always, but especially in light of New Year resolutions. If 2020 is your year for finding new friends, new relationships, getting a new job, moving to a new city, etc., you’ll want to look for a community that supports you and your goals. Consider this message as you begin all your quests.

 Go where the water is!