Proverbs 13:20 KJV
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
It is oftentimes easy for me to see the part of the verse that tells me to stay away from fools.
Teaching young people to avoid worldly friendships
Teaching young adults not to date lost or worldly people and
Teaching adults to be careful about their business and social associations
Is oftentimes the focus of preaching. No doubt it is true, when we run with the wrong crowd; we are going to get into trouble because of it.
But there is a positive spin on associations that is equally important to preach; which is that in order to grow we must associate with "wise men." Just as we are negatively influenced by the wrong people, we are positively influenced by the right people. So a wise Christian will not only avoid the influence of worldly people he will seek out and develop relationships with those who are wise spiritually and godly in nature so that they may grow is wisdom and godliness.
The doctrine of Biblical separation can be taken too far if we become exclusionary and recluse. We need the influence of the wise to make us wise.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
It is oftentimes easy for me to see the part of the verse that tells me to stay away from fools.
Teaching young people to avoid worldly friendships
Teaching young adults not to date lost or worldly people and
Teaching adults to be careful about their business and social associations
Is oftentimes the focus of preaching. No doubt it is true, when we run with the wrong crowd; we are going to get into trouble because of it.
But there is a positive spin on associations that is equally important to preach; which is that in order to grow we must associate with "wise men." Just as we are negatively influenced by the wrong people, we are positively influenced by the right people. So a wise Christian will not only avoid the influence of worldly people he will seek out and develop relationships with those who are wise spiritually and godly in nature so that they may grow is wisdom and godliness.
The doctrine of Biblical separation can be taken too far if we become exclusionary and recluse. We need the influence of the wise to make us wise.
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