Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; – Proverbs 24:1 (NIV)
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. – Proverbs 24:1 (KJV)
52 Proverbs in 52 Weeks – Week 10
This week’s theme: Choosing Your Friends
This is the last week on our “Choosing Your Friends” theme. Our verses for the last two weeks, Proverbs 13:20 and Proverbs 27:17, encouraged us to surround ourselves with Godly people who are positive influences. Whether we realize it or not, the people we spend time with shape our thoughts and our actions—and that can work for good or for bad. Thus, we must be extremely careful in choosing our companions.
In this week’s verse, Solomon warns that we must be equally diligent in choosing who we don’t spend time with. Although this is hard for adults, it can be especially hard for young men and women. In our schools and communities, the “popular crowd” is often popular for the wrong reasons. And some of the most popular individuals are known for being disrespectful, for being rebellious, for being unkind to others, and for doing things that don’t please our God. This is just as true on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook as it is in person. We know this is wrong, yet we still often find ourselves wanting to be included in that crowd and even feeling a bit jealous of their ill-gained popularity.
Although the people of Solomon’s day didn’t have Snapchat, they struggled with this issue as well. So Solomon, the “wisest of the wise,” provided guidance in Proverbs 24:1-2:
Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.
“Do not desire their company”…sometimes that’s a hard choice to make and it conflicts with our human (and sinful) nature, but that’s the path of the wise.
Our companions play a major role in shaping our lives. We must choose them wisely…
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