WALKING WITH OTHERS
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)
I love this simple principle: You walk like who you walk with. You can be rooted in the Spirit, but spending time with foolish or evil people uproots the work God is doing in your life. Solomon, the son of the great king David, wrote Proverbs, and the Bible calls him the wisest man ever. Solomon had real encounters with God and was filled with a spirit of wisdom, but his life didn’t end well. He turned from God, and his future generations would end up turning from God. He had such a great start but such a tragic ending. What happened?
The Bible is clear that he married wives that he shouldn’t have. The Israelites were commanded to marry in their community. This wasn’t a push against interracial marriages. It was a push against inter-faith marriages. God knew the principle that you walk like who you walk with. People can be nice and evil at the same time. We don’t like hearing this, but any friend who would cheer you all the way into hell and destruction isn’t your friend—that’s evil.
Have you investigated those walking closely with you? Are they causing you to become more like Jesus or less like Him? You need Godly people who will help you step into the future and the life God has for you. The great thing about Godly people is they don’t see you as you are. They call you to who you will be! They speak up when you’re walking off the path. Do you have people in your life who will do that?
Knowledge is different than education. A wise person is someone who loves God and walks in the Spirit. A smart person is well-educated. Both can be true, but some smart people aren’t wise. On the flip side, I also know people who are incredibly wise but aren’t as educated as others. It's essential to understand the kingdom of God works differently than the kingdom of this world. Wise people focus on the kingdom of God. Wise people help you make decisions for the future. Wise people help you keep one eye toward eternity. Are you a wise person to those around you? Are you surrounded by wise people? These are two of the most important questions you can ask to help you become more like Jesus!
APPLICATION: You walk like who you walk with.
PRAYER: Ask the Spirit to reveal who you’re walking with and their impact on your life. Pray for those friends who are blessing you and those bringing you down. Ask the Spirit to reveal who He wants you to walk closer with this season.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?