Daily Devotional for Tuesday, September 2

Wicked Companions

“So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof,” Proverbs 1:19.

“If you lie with dogs, you will get fleas.” That colloquialism describes the warnings of this proverb clearly. We all understand it in both a literal and metaphorical sense. Can anyone remember their parents warning them not to hang around with certain children? Immediately after being warned to stay away from so and so is usually when I heard our illustration phrase.

Our devotional verse summarized the warnings the writer provided in the verses before it. It summarized the problems with people in the world. Many are motivated by greed and selfish desires and are willing to do anything to get what they want, including ignoring God in their daily lives.

The writer of Proverbs often used the phrase, “My son.” Proverbs is a letter from a father to his son, written so that the son might behave wisely in the world. This letter is also our guidance from our Heavenly Father on how we might behave wisely in the world. Part of being wise is not hanging out with fools.

That challenge is difficult for believers. What are we to do when most of the world is composed of people acting foolishly? We cannot just run to a mountain and hide in a monastery! We do as Jesus did. He spent much time personally interacting with the lost; He even ate meals with them. On the other hand, we should look at whom He spent most of His time. He spent His time with His disciples.

JUST A THOUGHT

We are to share Jesus with sinners, not let them share their lifestyles with us.

Wally Fry