Watch The Company You Keep

I Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived; “Evil Company corrupts good habits

One of the worst important decisions you will make is who your friends will be. Your friends directly and indirectly affect who you will become depending on the level of influence and the development of your identity your habits could be compromised by the people you associate with.

Time and time again we have seen so many stars lose their fortune; derail their careers fooling around with the wrong people. Shall I call the roll, Tupac in the hotel with friend, Snoop in an alleged drive by, Michael Vick with his dawgs, OJ with is buddies in Vegas….what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. Bad company corrupts good morals. True enough we can get into trouble on our own but whom you associate with can either make you better or worse.

1. Do not be deceived. Deception is when folks come under the guise of friendship and slowly take you away from who you really are. You must always realize that if you have more at stake then they do, then you should be the key influencer not the other way around.

2. Bad company. What kind of character do the people have that you spend the most time with? Maybe it’s the character of your friends that unnerves your parents or your spouse. Sometimes we are guilty by association.

3. Bad Company corrupts good habits. Your discipline is eroded by the acidity of people who don’t mean you any good. The longer you are around them the less effective you are. You lose your shine hanging with people who have no light.
The opposite is also true when you hang with people who are going somewhere. It makes you stronger. Proverbs says, “As Iron sharpens Iron so one man ought to sharpen another.” How sharp are the people you are hanging with?

Dear God, surround me with people of integrity. Keep me alert to deception and to people who don’t mean me any good. Send people in my life who make me better not worse. Thank you for the few friends I have who speak truth and bring integrity into my life.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.