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Bad Company Corrupts
Do not be misled:
“Bad company corrupts good character”
(1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV).
In our lives, we can really blow it and find out way too late. Great thing is, in Christ, it can become a huge blessing if you use it and even use it to encourage others in fellowship who chose the same wrong path. Who are we spending most of our time with? How are we using our talents? Are we building up or tearing down?
Ok, I am not what you'd call a Star Wars freak, but there are more Christian references than you'd think, and, what can we say, God is everywhere!
In short, real bad stuff happened to Vader here when he was a boy named Anakin, so he was an angry, prideful lad (been there, done that) and tempted with evil by the guy here in the hood (ditto). In the end, the guy in the hood got what was coming to him for destroying lives (and planets), Vader repented (after wasting much of his life, ah, doing the same), and all because he decided to hang out with the wrong dude. (I mean, who could turn down The Death Star as "home sweet home"... the food was probably fabulous, not to mention the view). Godly humility eventually won, and all of this could have been avoided if bad company were opposed.
Anyway, here's a cool read I found on a websearch of the same title as this post, hope it blesses you too!
What kind of company do you keep? Perhaps like me you are in a Christian environment much of the time. If so, that’s wonderful! But even if that is the case, it’s important to be mindful of the type of influence others – including believers – have on you. For instance, have you ever gotten caught up in gossip in what was supposed to be a prayer meeting? Or maybe you’ve given in to the temptation to join in with others who are criticizing the pastoral staff of the church. It’s even possible for you to begin to think negatively about your spouse when those around you routinely find fault with their spouses. The bottom line is that even in your friendships with other believers you need to be careful to consider the type of company you keep.
What about friendships with unbelievers? Shouldn’t you be “salt and light”? Yes, most definitely! However, although we should seek to influence those around us who do not know Christ, we must always guard against compromise in our relationships. For example, although it is good to reach out to friends and neighbors who do not know Christ, it’s not advisable to develop intimate personal relationships with people who pull you away from God. As a safeguard, be accountable to another strong believer when it comes to your friendships with unbelievers. Spend time praying together for those unbelieving friends, so that your focus is always on being salt and light, rather than on fitting in and being popular. And know that when it comes right down to it, if you are truly walking in the light of Jesus, you will never quite “fit in” with those who don’t know Him.
Finally, I want to address one other aspect of the “company” many of us keep in the form of the media. Most of us are bombarded on a daily basis with images, sounds and words that either uplift and point us to Christ, or bring us down. Is there anything wrong with reading a clean romance novel? (Editor's Note: Eric does NOT read romance novels!). Maybe not, but romance novels, even clean ones, can create unrealistic expectations for perfection in our relationships, and may leave us frustrated and disillusioned when our spouses don’t quite measure up to the romantic hero in our latest novel. Other books may be crass, or have ideas that are contrary to Scripture. And many T.V. shows, movies, and magazines can corrupt our character. Next time you’re about to pick up a book or turn on the T.V., consider whether or not your media choice will corrupt your character. Then make the right choice!
Father, we pray that you will help us to carefully consider the type of company we keep. Help us to make right choices regarding friendships and the media. Help us to live in a way that honors You so that we’ll always be growing in godliness. Amen.
Thought: Use your journal to evaluate the company you keep. Take the time to work think through both relationships with people and the media. (Note: If you don’t like to journal, spend some time praying about this subject.)
© 2006 by Rebecca Livermore, a Christian speaker and writer from Denver, Colorado. Her passion is helping people grow spiritually. To read more of her articles on Christian living, and to check out her always growing selection of Christian resource materials, visit http://www.rebeccalivermore.com .
