“Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV)
Last fall we had a guest speaker at church who was talking with another man about his lifestyle. The guest really pushed the man – who had recently become a Christian – to “Change your playgrounds and your playmates.”* Evidently the new believer had been hanging out with people who were not good for him and certainly would not be good for his newfound faith in Christ. This week I had separate conversations with a mother and teenage daughter who both agreed that the daughter needed to shift friend groups. Both of these illustrate the need to choose wisely our friends.
Here are just two of the proverbs that speak to this topic:
“Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20 NIV)
“As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)
It seems that that the “soundtrack” of our lives – music, news, the Word of God, other relationships – also adds to the likelihood (or not) of us being able to walk wisely and righteously with God. Ideally, we are all journeying toward becoming more and more like Jesus, and less and less led by our flesh, emotions, the demonic, or other “voices” in our lives. And when we have the right “soundtrack” we can hear the precious voice of God calling to us. “This is my [Child], whom I love; with him [or her] I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NIV)
All-Wise God,
Thank you for your Word that shapes our lives and shows us the ways in which we should live, so we can be in harmony with you and growing more like Jesus. Give us hearts to seek your righteousness, wisdom to do so, and self-control and perseverance so we honor you in all things. Help our lives have the right “soundtrack” and other influences. And, Holy Spirit, help us hear your sweet and encouraging voice as we journey this way. We ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
* h/t Tony Kemp 10/2/22