Proverbs__13

Scripture

Proverbs 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

 

Observation

King Solomon continues on his talks of obtaining wisdom, and in this chapter he discusses ways to not only take valid criticism and grow from it, but also to evaluate who we surround ourself with. He makes it imperative that as wise followers of God, we must be the ones influencing those around us, and not the other way around.

 

Understanding

Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.

I used to hear this all the time in high school, and figured it didn’t really apply to me because I didn’t really have that many friends. However, I looked around closely at others and saw that this became very indicative of all of them. People who would spend their time with people involved in substances gradually became addicted to the same substance, or people who spent their time with people heavily involved with the school and its activities slowly entered more rigorous courses or ASB (that was me). The bottom line is that they were influenced either way. By the end of my sophomore year my biggest concern was that I wasn’t doing anything to leave an impressionable mark on those coming up after me. So junior and senior year I made the shift to become more involved in the lives of those around me. I wanted to invest in them so that influence them. I’d like to think that I was successful, but only time can tell on things like that. So what’s my point?

Who you hang around matters! You don’t have to be in high school to know this either, it happens everywhere whether we are conscious of it or not. It doesn’t have to be a bad thing either. If someone is really good at something that you want to learn more about, hang around them it’s bound to rub off on you. My professor said the other day, “Sometimes it’s better to be by yourself than to be in bad company.” Although this sounds extremely logical and exactly what King Solomon is talking about, I don’t think this is all correct either. If we are to multiply Christ-followers everywhere, it means at some point we are going to have to go out to “bad company” and show them the love of Jesus. I’m not saying to go all crazy (know your limitations), but I am saying to show them what walking with the wise looks like. Raise their standard, don’t stoop to theirs.

 

Life Application

Walk the walk, and talk the talk.

Let’s make sure that what we say, matches our heart and intention. It’s one thing to say all the right things that makes look wise, but it’s another thing to actually live a wise Christ centered life as well. Anyone can love the unlovable and tell them what being wise sounds like, don’t just be anyone. Let’s serve them too, and walk alongside them so that they may become wise as well.

-Allison Khan