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?