WALK WITH THE WISE
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
Proverbs is part of the Hebrew Bible’s poetry section. It’s a collection of divinely inspired truths. But remember, Proverbs gives principles, not guarantees. Every verse is God-breathed, but not every one is absolute in every case. Take Proverbs 10:4: Lazy people are soon poor; Hard workers get rich. Yet we all know lazy people who inherited money and hard workers who still struggle. That doesn’t make the verse untrue. It means the principle stands: laziness leads to ruin, and God honors hard work.
Today’s Proverb says that if you walk through life with wise people, you’ll likely become wise too. But hang out with fools and you’ll get burned. Maybe not right away, but eventually. You’ve heard the saying, birds of a feather flock together. It’s not just a warning. It’s a reality. If your closest friends think foolishly or live recklessly, you may not be a fool, but you’re in training. And you won’t see it coming until you’ve done something dumb.
So, take inventory. Who do you spend time with? Who shapes your thinking? Learn to be discerning without becoming judgmental. Some fools are obvious. The guy lying on his taxes or the party girl on her second DUI. But others are sneakier. Ever met a super religious conservative Christian who’s mean or petty? They might look godly, but they’re toxic. Or an intelligent person who believes every conspiracy on YouTube? Still a fool. Just a creative one.
You’re not looking for perfect people, just wise ones. People who know God’s truth and live like they believe it. Look for folks who demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. Then watch and learn.
APPLICATION: Ask God to help you evaluate the people around you. He may lead you to create some distance from friends who are pulling you in the wrong direction, even if you like them. This goes double if you're dating them. Pray for wise friends. And if none come to mind, it might be time to join a small group at church.
PRAYER: Father, help me spot foolish beliefs and actions in others and myself. Please give me the courage to walk away from people who pull me off course. Give me friends who know and live Your grace and wisdom. Please help me be one of them. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?