Read Proverbs 13:20. What does it mean to you to "walk with the wise"? And what does it mean to be a "companion of fools"? What is the stated outcome for each of these relationships?
Though we're just looking at one verse today, there's a wealth of advice and information in this short passage. "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." I can't help but think about the book I just finished, Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson. As Ron and I prepare and seek information on raising our little girl, this book basically highlights the influence - good or bad - that society, parents, friends and others will have on our baby girl as she grows up. One of the things since reading this book that I continuously pray for her is that as she grows older, she will make friends with other girls that will help, not hinder, her in walking the straight path that God would want her to walk.
Think back to the relationships you had in school - friends that perhaps influenced you to make poor decisions, and friends that influenced you to do the right things. The friends we choose to have throughout our lives is extremely important. Being surrounded by "the wise" could make all of the difference.
The latter half of the verse, "a companion of fools suffers harm" also carries a lot of weight. Notice the end - 'suffers harm.' It doesn't say, a companion of fools becomes foolish, or a companion of fools suffers consequences (although these two things may very well be the case), it says he or she suffers harm. That's pretty serious stuff!
So while I continue to pray for Ellie that she will "walk with the wise", we should continue to pray this for ourselves, too.
So here are some questions to throw back at you: how do you discern who is wise vs. a fool? Does this mean that we shouldn't befriend 'fools'? Afterall, we ourselves could be the influence that they need.
Great questions! The actions of others will discern if they are wise or not -- which usually means they are followers of Christ. You notice the guy who doesn't cuss in the office when he's having a really bad day, or doesn't joke around boasting about he was drunk last night. But I guess this doesn't necessarily mean he's a Christian. This is where befriending others will give you an opportunity to dig a little deeper. If your new-found friend starts telling you about his 3 wives in his Mormon religion, yet doesn't get drunk, smoke, or cuss, you can scratch him off the 'wise' list. (sorry, watched sister wives on TLC last night.)
ReplyDeleteWe both agreed that we definitely need to befriend the 'fools'. I think Jill made a great point about how WE might be the ones to light their way and show them Jesus. Jesus hung out with tax collectors, lepers and prostitutes in his daily life. While Jesus couldn't be swayed by their 'influence' (like we can be), he did have to scratch below the surface of acquaintance in order to be allowed into these persons' lives so he could positively influence them. We are both surrounded by 'fools' at work -- a lot of them -- and we strongly believe this is why we are in the current jobs that we have today. Tim especially. He has 4, maybe 5, people who share his faith out of the entire building. That's not a lot of wise men to tackle the fools. But as Tim builds himself up with this circle of friends in bible study, and his men's bible study, including older guys, it will be a great mentoring opportunities to lead him through experiences to help him live out his faith while amongst the 'fools'. Kelli's entire leadership team above her are either non-believers or believers who don't act out their faith. While it's hard following decisions when you know the incentive was either selfish or deceiving, it's also following authority, and obedience builds trust. Trust builds relationships and relationships provide opportunities to share your faith.
Tom and I discussed how important it is to surround ones self with "wise" people-if they become the main influence in our lives; it will assist in developing and deepening ones faith and understanding of Christ. We also agree with the fact that we need to befriend 'fools'. In order to put ones faith into action we need to be able to share our faith through our words and actions. However-there is a difference between befriending others to promote the kingdom and becoming a companion of fools. Submersing ourselves in society and our current cultural norms could easily become a companionship of fools.
ReplyDeleteScott and I discussed how important it is to remember that even when the world thinks someone is wise it may not be biblically based. We know one is wise if they are living and acting out their faith. We also discussed that we were all fools at one point and that we should have compassion for them just as Jesus would while standing strong in our faith and not conforming to their ways.
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