The Influence of Bad Company

  • Post category:Devotions
  • Post comments:0 Comments
  • Reading time:2 mins read

Read: 1 Cor. 15:33

There is a proverb that says that a man is known by the company he keeps. A person must be wise in selecting his friends as they could influence him. “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble” (Prov. 13:20). If a man has a drunkard as a friend, he could probably influence him also to drink for the sake of company and eventually make him a drunkard. “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). As King Solomon writes in Eccl. 10:1 – “As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.” Wisdom is required in choosing the right friend. A partner in crime, always regrets his life, as he has to hear a lot of cursing, yet not disclosing his partner’s secrets (Prov. 29:24).

Paul writes in 2 Cor. 6:14 of not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers: “for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?” Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 5:11 – “not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one.” If a person is working in a company with wrong morals or supports ideals that are not acceptable to God, then it is better to quit the job than continuing in sin. A person who supports an evil man for his actions and condemns a righteous man are both an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 17:15).

The self-righteous, religious crowd scoffed and said that Jesus was a friend of sinners (Luke 5:29-32; 7:34; 15:1-2). But He gladly accepted that label, explaining that He didn’t come to call the righteous (in the context, He meant “self-righteous”), but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). So the first step to being called the friend of Jesus is to come to Him as a helpless sinner, asking Him to save you. Are you a true friend of Jesus? Are you walking in His company? And are you walking with good company?

If you have been blessed or encouraged today, would you consider donating to support the Pointer to Eternity ministry?

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.