Walk with the Wise

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, 
but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
- Proverbs 13:20

You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.

"Show me your friends & I will show you your future." - John Kuebler

WOW. That is a sobering thought! Our friends do influence & impact us, even if we do not realize it or try to disagree. They influence our everyday decisions, thoughts, words & actions. Who we spend time with, who we idolize, who we pattern our lives after is who we will become. That is a scary thought!!!

So, some questions for you-

Who are your friends?
Who is impacting & influencing you?
Are they suitable companions for you?
Who is following whom, in this friendship?
Do they encourage you to walk in integrity, to follow the Lord's statutes?
Or do they discourage you from walking in righteousness?
What sorts of decisions do you end up making, when you are with them?
What kinds of decisions are they making in their lives?

"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'"- 1 Corinthians 15:33

Don't be deceived. You might think that you are the one doing the influencing in this situation. Maybe you're trying to "missionary date" or are befriending someone, so that you might lead them to Christ.

I am reminded of a visual that my best friend tells all the time- One person is standing on a chair with another person on the ground next to them. They link arms. It is much easier for the person on the ground to topple the person on the chair & pull them off, than it is for the person on the chair to pull up the person on the floor. In the same way, it is much easier for unbelievers to pull us down to their level, than it is for us to bring them up to ours.

 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God."
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

"Do not be yoked with unbelievers." Hmm... A commandment. Pretty straightforward, if you ask me!

Another thought- Your friends are more than just the people you associate yourself with. In blog post entitled "My iPod Is My Best Friend," authors Alex & Brett Harris (founders of the Rebelution & authors of Do Hard Things & Start Here) give us this radical thought- your friends are anything that has an impact or an influence on you! Whether it's books, the Internet, movies, music, magazines or whatever. If you can't put it down; if it rules your pocketbook, if it consumes your time- it's a friend. [You can read the whole article here]

So I ask you again, what is influencing you? Where do you spend your time and money? What occupies your thoughts the most?

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up."

- Galatians 6:7-9

Where are you sowing? Where do you spend your time? What will your harvest be?