1 CORINTHIANS 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
PSALM 119:63 – I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
THEME OF THE DAY. WHO ARE YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS? Before we get far into today’s nugget, let us do some work of observation and comparisons in today’s scriptures. First, what is common to both? People. The words “company” and “companion” point to people. Next, what are the qualities found in both groups? In the people labeled “bad company”, they have a negative influence on others. A good illustration would be rotten fruit that ruins other fruit in its proximity. From a human and spiritual perspective, we may paraphrase a meaning like this, “Be in much company with those who are the wrong crowd and it will ruin your walk with the Lord Jesus.” The other group consists of those who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to His Word and enjoy companionship with Him. Again, another paraphrased spiritual perspective would be, “Be in much company with those who honor the Lord in their conduct, who seek Christ with passion and consistency, who walk in His fear for it will greatly encourage and spiritually benefit you.”
The lesson formed from both verses by contrast is this . . . be careful who we befriend. The company we choose will be the company we become. We sadly know cases of Christians who chose to run with the crowd or enter relationships that pulled them away from the Lord. This happens all too often among young adults and late teens who start “hanging around” with unsaved friends, or with professing Christian peers who have more interest in the world than the Word. The results are never good spiritually. It is self-deception to think one may entertain unhealthy spiritual relationships and not be negatively impacted. And please, counsel lovingly but with warning any young man or woman who professes to be a Christian thinking it is okay to enter an opposite sex relationship with an unsaved young man or woman. It is always disastrous for the Christian. Always. Without exception. But the lesson extends to all Christians.
Be wise in choosing friends and the closest of companions. The best company a Christian may choose is the person who is most passionate for Christ, most like Christ, and will be a strong encourager in our walks with Christ. We will enjoy much deeper fellowship with the Lord through the company we keep. And to motivate us to develop those Christ-centered relationships, ponder the words of the prophet Malachi concerning godly friendship and fellowship, particularly what the Lord promises – Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him (Malachi 3:16-17). May the Lord help us to develop the closest of friends being those the closest to Him.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for the gifts of dear brothers and sisters in Your Son whom I get to do life with.”
QUOTE: “The company you are most fond of and give yourself over to as friends says much about your spiritual life.”