BAD COMPANY VERSUS ISOLATION
…”bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33b (NLT)
Jesus prayed: “I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
John 17:15-18 (NLT)
Scripture warns us about two equal and opposite dangers in friendships: surrounding ourselves with the wrong people or cutting ourselves off from them entirely.
Paul says that bad company corrupts good character. That’s not a suggestion, it’s a fact. As we discussed in yesterday’s devotional, the people closest to you will shape how you think, speak, and live over time.
But that doesn’t mean we’re called to isolate ourselves. Jesus made it clear that His followers are not supposed to run away from the world. We were never meant to live in fear or isolation. After all, Jesus spent time with tax collectors, sinners and outcasts (Luke 15). He wasn’t afraid of the darkness. He walked into it with the light of truth. He called us to do the same: to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs it. And if all the salt stays in the saltshaker, it doesn’t help anyone.
So, how can we balance being in the world yet not of it? We ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern Who influences whom? Where am I strong enough to shine, and where will I likely be pulled down?
Some people may never tempt you. Alcohol is not a temptation for me. But put a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts in front of me and I’ll eat every one without thinking. The point is not legalism. The point is honesty and humility. Know your heart. Know your weaknesses.
Surround yourself with wise, Spirit-filled friends who sharpen your faith and stir your love for Jesus. But don’t hide from the world. Engage with it. Love people. Let them see what God is doing in you.
APPLICATION: Ask God to show you where you’re needed in the world and where you might need stronger boundaries. Are your closest relationships pulling you toward Christ or away from Him? Are you hiding your light or shining it?
PRAYER: Lord, give me discernment about my relationships. Help me love people without losing my way. Show me where I can be salt and light in a dark world, and surround me with wise friends who help me follow You more fully. 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?