July 21, Choosing Friends

Today’s reading: Psalm 101-105

“My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me”
- Psalm 101:6.

David declared that he was careful about choosing both his friends, associates, and his spiritual leaders. He understood what Paul wrote much later: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul also wrote, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Paul clarified his instruction about contact with unbelievers when he wrote, “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Are your friends and associates claiming to be believers but behaving badly? Are you in church fellowship with folk who do not evidence Christian behavior and attitudes? Be honest: Is their behavior rubbing off on you and affecting your walk and devotion to the Lord? If it is, what are you prepared to do about it?