These next set of verses will tell you two things – that he who walks with other wise men will he himself become wise – but he who has fools as his friends and companions will be destroyed! Per the article I did titled, “Choose Your Friends Carefully” - the Bible makes it very clear that we are not to be yoked together with unbelievers, that we are to choose our friends carefully, and that evil company will corrupt good habits.
Once you enter into a full surrender of your entire life with God the Father, one of the first things He will start to do is to prune out some of the bad and negative people that you may have in your life. These negative people will do nothing but try and hold you back if you start to try and grow in the Lord. God will not be putting up with their negative influences in your life, and He will thus be taking these types of negative people out of your life very early on in your walk with Him.
Many Christians never make it into what God’s true call was for them in this life because they did not want to give up their negative friends. As a result, these negative people kept these Christians bound up in their lower way of living in this life. As a result, these Christians never reach their full potential in the Lord in this lifetime.
The very first verse I will list below says that he who walks with other wise men will become wise himself. The reason for this is that you can learn from other wise people besides what you will get direct from God on your own. Learning from other wise people will really help in accelerating your knowledge in the Lord and whatever else God wants to give you His knowledge on. These verses will also perfectly line up with the verses mentioned above about safety being found in the multitude of counselors.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)
“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)
“A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:6)
“A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.” (Proverbs 12:23)
“He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” (Proverbs 17:27)
Notice God says in the second verse that fools will be despising the knowledge and wisdom that you may have in Him. This lines up with the verse in that we are not to give what is holy to the dogs. The knowledge and wisdom that you will be receiving from the Lord will be very holy, and you will be wasting your time trying to feed it to other people who have no desire for it.
PRAYER
Developing Healthy Friendships
Father, help me to meet new friends — friends who will encourage me. May I find in these friendships the companionship and fellowship You have ordained for me. I know that You are my source of love, companionship, and friendship. Your love and friendship are expressed through my relationship with You and members of the Body of Christ.
According to Proverbs 27:17 CEV, as iron sharpens iron, so friends sharpen the minds of each other. As we learn from each other, may we find a worthy purpose in our relationship. Keep me well-balanced in my friendships, so that I will always please You rather than pleasing other people.
I ask for divine connections — good friendships ordained by You. Thank You for the courage and grace to let go of detrimental friendships. I ask and receive, by faith, discernment for developing healthy relationships. Your Word says that two are better than one, because if one falls, there will be someone to lift that person up.
Father, You know the hearts of people, so I won’t be deceived by outward appearances. Bad friendships corrupt good morals. Thank You for quality friends who help me build a stronger character and draw me closer to You. Help me be a friend to others and to love my friends at all times. I will laugh with those who laugh, I will rejoice with those who rejoice, and I will weep with those who weep. Teach me what I need to know to be a quality friend.
Develop in me a fun personality and a good sense of humor. Help me to relax around people and to be myself — the person You created me to be. Instruct my heart and mold my character, that I may be faithful and trustworthy over the friendships You are sending into my life.
Father, Your Son, Jesus, is my best Friend. He is a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother. He defined the standard when He said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Thank You, Lord, that I can entrust myself and my need for friends into Your keeping. I submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture References:
Proverbs 13:20 NIV 1 Corinthians 15:33 AMP
Ephesians 5:30 NIV James 1:17 NIV
Philippians 2:2,3 NIV Proverbs 17:17
Proverbs 13:20 NIV Romans 12:15
Psalm 84:11 NIV Proverbs 18:24
Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 NIV Psalm 37:4,5 NIV
©2013 Germaine Copeland and Word Ministries, Inc.
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