It has been said that we are known by the company we keep. A wise man once wrote: “Do not make friends with a person given to anger, or go with a hot-tempered person, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.” In case you don’t recognize it, that wise man is Solomon and the saying from Proverbs 22:24-25 (NASB2020). It’s from the Bible. You know…that outdated and irrelevant book. (Okay, so that comment was a bit snarky 🙂 )
The truth of that statement has been proven down through the years. All I need to do is give a word or initial or two and you can see how true it is. Nazis. KKK. Black Panther. Nation of Islam. SDS. El-Qaeda. CCS. PP. History is replete with subversive groups, groups with their own agenda, groups who have made their mark (not always good either). There wouldn’t be groups like this if there weren’t “like” thinkers. “Birds of a feather flock together” is what we will say.
The church should be made up of like-minded individuals. Not cookie cutters, but people with a common goal. People who desire to mold together as a unit to fight our real enemy, not each other, but the one who can kill the soul.
I read I Timothy 1 this morning. I was struck again by the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy in verses 12-17. My short version is “I was that but now I’m this.” “I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor, but I’ve received mercy. I’m no longer the chief of sinners but an example of a changed life.” Paul was part of a saved family. His goals changed. The company he kept changed.
He was now known by the company he keeps, not kept. What was, is exactly that, was. He’d rather be known by his new company. Please remember we are known by the company we keep. The question remains: who will do the influencing?
Amen, Bill! We definitely are judged by the company we keep, so may we choose to surround ourselves with compassionate and Christ-filled people.
Glad to be back!!!
Blessings!
The correct choice for sure Martha. It is good to have you back. Hope you had a good time with family.
I know my friend groups have changed a bit from my former (BC) days. As I speak with young men who have had encounters with the law and begin to reintegrate back into full freedom, it is so important to cut ties with those who brought you down. I know many times the hope is that you can help bring others out of a life that is dark and dingy, but that needs to be done in a setting that keeps ourselves away from those things that can so easily tempt us. That can be especially hard when those that brought us down includes family. It is so important to have boundaries that are non-negotiable.
What a great “add-in” Ryan. Having boundaries is so important, especially for those who find themselves unable to leave family or even friends.
I love Paul. Definitely who you choose to spend your time with does reflect what your priorities are and what’s important to you. We need friends that will be honest and tell us the truth when we screw up, encourage us to grow in our faith, not give us excuses for our behavior. To help us to do the right thing according to God’s word on the subject. We need friends that want to see changes in us, and ultimately want us to be reflecting Christ in our lives.
Good definition of a friend Gail. We need all of those and more. We need someone “pushing” us to be more like Jesus.
It is so true! I often think of this in the opposite way, too. What kind of company am I to be around? How am I influencing others? I get pretty sobered when I think of such things. Lord, help me.
It is sobering Cheryl. It is one of those things we need to take stock of often.