CHOOSE GOOD COMPANY

By: Dennis Harworth

Tell me who your closest and best friends are, and I can probably tell you who you really are.  An old adage says, “If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl.  But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.”  I know this is figuratively, but the same principles apply in life with the people you hang around with or with whom you spend the most time.

A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like

is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.

It is a simple but true fact of life that those you closely associate with, you will eventually become – for the good or for the bad.  Hopefully, you can be brutally honest with yourself and recognize that the less you associate with some people, the more your life seems to improve.  Also, be quick to realize when you tolerate mediocrity in others, it will increase your mediocrity.  Then, on the other hand, have you ever noticed successful people are “allergic” to negative thinking and acting people?  If any of these kinds of people bring you down in any way, why would you want to keep company with them?     

As you grow in maturity and in the things of God, your associations will change.  Be prepared to know some of your friends will not want you to go on with you.  They will want you to stay at the level where they are.  They will not help you to climb because they want you to crawl.  Your friends will either stretch your vision or choke your dream.  Those that don’t bring increase in your life will eventually decrease you.  Since bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT), consider a few more points:

-Never receive counsel from unproductive people.

-Never discuss problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution.

-Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.  You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.

-Don’t follow anyone who’s not going somewhere.

-Keep away from angry, short-tempered people. (Proverbs 22:22-24, NLT) 

-Don’t keep company with a Christian “brother or sister” living an ungodly lifestyle. (1 Corinthians 5:11)

-Stay away from “the brethren” who refuse to obey the Word of God.  (2 Thessalonians 3:14).

 The traits of good company are a long list, but I think they can be summed up in two ways. 

The first is having the same Godlike, mutual faith to strengthen, encourage, and comfort each other in things of God. (Romans 1:12, AMPC). 

The second is to become wise by walking with the wise. (Proverbs 13:20).  

Wisdom is better than gold and he that handles a matter wisely will prosper. (Proverbs 16:16, 20).  Therefore, associate and spend the most time with the people who will help you stay connected to God and walk with you in wisdom to improve, increase, prosper and reign in life.  The choice seems very obvious to me, but it’s still really up to you to CHOOSE GOOD COMPANY.