(Prov 22:20,21 GNB) Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
This morning we continue our series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” This is the 3rd Saying: an Admonition on Associating with the Angry (Prov 22:24-25). Simply put, every one of us must be extremely careful when considering who we spend out time with. Like it or not, our friends matter and one way or another, they WILL rub off on us. I have shared with you before that if you surround yourself with the wrong people you will become the wrong person. In chapter 12 Solomon said, “Godly people are careful about the friends they choose” (12:26). The Message Bible paraphrase of this verse tells us why; it reads: “Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected.” I like that. It’s almost like a disease. If you hang out with the wrong people you will get infected with the wrong ‘stuff.’ The good news is, however, that the opposite I also true. While countless people have wrecked their lives by connecting with the wrong crowd, countless others have benefited from the friendship, mentorship, and influence of great company. In chapter 13 Solomon explained both sides by saying, “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces” (13:20). So it is clear that both wisdom and foolishness (or anger in this case) can be transferred by association. Let’s look at a few benefits of choosing the right friends:
1. You get the safety of wise counsel: Earlier in this series we learned: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). When you surround yourself with the right people, you will receive the right feedback when you bounce your ideas off of them and their feedback will keep you from unnecessary mistakes.
2. Your character is protected: Solomon tells us here that we literally “endanger our soul” when we expose ourselves to the wrong crowd. In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he was addressing a myriad of issues within their church. The church had allowed unruly conduct to spread like wildfire. Paul addressed the issues in many ways, but one thing he said that is pertinent to this lesson is: “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” ” (1st Corinthians 15:33). He did not mince words. If you hang with corrupt people, you will eventually get corrupted (infected with their corruptive ways).
3. You remain sharp: One of the greatest benefits of having Godly friends is that they keep you sharp. You are able to grow together. Later in Proverbs Solomon said, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (27:17). If you want to remain sharp, you must surround yourself with sharp people. A true God-friend can help keep you sharp in the Spirit, letting you know when you are getting off track. We all need that!
So what does this mean to you today? It means having the right friends is awesome. We all need people to share our life experiences with. Everyone needs a Paul: a mentor, guide, someone who is already where we want to be, and who is willing to pour into us. Everyone needs a Timothy: someone we can mentor, who wants to be where we already are, and who is willing to be poured into. Everyone needs a Jonathan: someone on equal par with us, someone to share life experiences with, someone we can sharpen and who can help keep us sharp! When you have Godly friends the Father can use them to help keep you on the course to His desired destination for your life—protecting your soul and your destiny!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Word. Your Word is awesome and it applies to every area of my life. The warnings you provide me keep me from all sorts of danger and unnecessary pain. I declare, right now, that I have a Paul in my life. I have someone I look up to, who is already where I want to be, who can pour into my life! I have a Timothy, someone who wants to be where I am, someone I can pour into and make an investment in. And I also have a Jonathan, a covenant brother/sister, someone on my same level that can help keep me sharp and who I can sharpen. I surround myself with the right people, who give me the right input, and who influence me in the right way, so that I can arrive at the right destination at the end of my life! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
