“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
The definition of companion is “One who accompanies or associates with another, either habitually or casually; one who shares the lot of another; a mate; a comrade.”
We have always heard that bad company corrupts good character. Hollywood has thrown this phrase into many movies, where we see a relatively good young man get caught up in the wrong crowd and end up doing something that derails his life.
Another truth that I have come to notice is that there is no shortage of fools. There is a difference between being young and unaware and being a fool. Foolish people seem to not listen to wise counsel, while the young and unaware are, for the most part, just naive and need direction. I can tell you that the company you keep will shape your life. They will alter your speech, your dress, your thoughts, your outlook, your beliefs, and on and on until you resemble them in most respects.
One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 26:11. It reads, “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” You know you are way too deep when you keep repeating dumb mistakes, the same thing that Solomon tells us that fools do: repeat.
I love to work out. Over the years, I have been in great shape and in poor shape. I have the pictures, and they are not flattering. I have found that when I was in great shape, I repeated healthy steps to stay in shape. From eating to moving more and sitting less, over time, the fitness just crept up. I look back at where I was in the fitness category and compare it with myself now, and have learned a lot, and seem to have kept the weight off for over a decade now.
Your spiritual life is the same way. It is a marathon of commitment, little by little every day, choosing Christ over sin and worldly habits. Before too long, you will be listening to the Holy Spirit and doing the will of the Lord with every step, a fit Christian, so to speak. It all starts with the companionship you keep. Are they wise or are they foolish? It may be time to cut away some foolishness in your companionship and find some wise companions.
Today, do an inventory of your life. Who do you hang out with? Who do you do life with? Who do your friends live with? Our verse today tells us that if we walk with the wise, we will be wise. Just like repeating your folly if you were a fool, you will repeat wise actions if you are becoming wise. Simple to write about, but more difficult to do, trust me. It may start with your money, or your mouth and what you say, or repeating those devotional times with the Lord every day.
Prayer: Father, help me to get rid of the foolishness in my life and also stop being a companion of fools. I pray that I will renew my mind every day, every hour, every minute if need be, to make the Holy Spirit my closest companion. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
Leave a comment