As I was studying through Proverbs, I came across a verse that I wanted to share. It is found in Proverbs 13:20 and it reads “He who walks with the wise men will be wise. But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” What a great, practical verse. We do however need to be careful when assessing the implications of the teaching here. This verse is not saying that just being around someone will make you be the same as them. For example, if you were to hang out with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, you would not become an NBA great just because of your relationship to these players. But you would most likely have a better understanding of the game of basketball. Anyway, the point is, it matters who we associate with. It matters who we spend time with and allow ourselves to be around.
There was a time in my life when I was the one that parents told their kids to stay away from, and for good reason. I was not a good influence and where I was, trouble was bound to be too. I was “bad company” to be around. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says “do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good morals.” Again, it matters who we choose to associate with. Fools will inevitably be stumbling blocks of compromise.
Like the verse in Proverbs 13 says, if we want to be wise, if we want to make good choices that honor the Lord and edify one another, then we need to surround ourselves with people who are going to foster and encourage that type of environment. This is particularly important for our children, no matter what age they are. We should pray diligently for our kids to have friends that will provide God honoring accountability and encouragement. Likewise we should be praying that God would keep those away from our children who would be toxic, who would be negative influences. The Bible is very clear about the importance of healthy friendships, so it only makes sense that we pray to that end for ourselves and for our loved ones.
So, join me this week in prayer for the influence of brothers and sisters in your own life and the lives of others as well. Let’s honor and glorify God in our relationships with our friends.
By His Grace And For His Glory.
Pastor Sam
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