Be Prudent, Watch Your Circle

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

God’s children should take seriously those who they surround themselves with, as the company you keep plays a significant role in our lives.

Today’s devotional reading: 1 Kings 10:26-11:8

It is always good to be surrounded by good company, but be sure the company you keep is good company. Jesus warned that we are to keep a watchful eye for the false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. When teaching this lesson to the Corinthians, Paul warned that one must be careful about evil company because evil company corrupts good habits.

Satan attacks us in many ways, and deception is certainly one of the ways he attacks us. The devil will disguise himself to get close to you and make you feel so comfortable that you will drop your guard. In the garden, Eve let the serpent get near to her, and she dropped her guard and ate from the forbidden tree.

Proverbs 22:24 warns that one shouldn’t make friends with an angry man nor follow a furious man, for one will learn their ways. This same teaching holds true for all sin! Solomon was a man who was led into the way of corruption and turned away from God because of his passion for foreign women. Solomon built altars for their gods and even joined in on worshiping their gods.

In both the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, he warns readers to be prudent about their every step, and not to follow in the path of a fool. The company you keep ought to sharpen you and esteem you to be better. The company you keep ought to walk circumspectly (cautiously) and wisely in the way they go. What this means is that the company you keep ought to help you walk faithfully in the way of God! If the company you keep fails to do this, you must remove said company from around you.