Choosing Your Associates

Today, many no longer cling to the traditional moral standards of the church, considering them outdated.  In an effort to get along better with those around them, many have adopted the moral standards of the people around them, not realizing the results of that focus.  James 4:4 warns, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” 

While we have a duty to reach out to the unsaved, it is critical we not get too closely involved with them.  II Corinthians 6:14-18 commands, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 

Ephesians 5:14-16 tells us to pay attention to what we are doing so that we don’t become too involved with the things of the world.   “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  If we do not pay attention we may waste our time and energy doing things that interfere with our spiritual life, because we live in time when evil is widely accepted, and encouraged. 

II Timothy 3:1-7 warns of the dangers and attitudes we need to avoid.   “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul warned that people would be totally self-centered, with the result they would be very materialistic, constantly wanting more or fancier things, bragging about even minor accomplishments, thinking they are better than other people and deliberately running them down and calling them names such as racist or whore, etc.  They have little or no respect for their parents or those in authority, and do not appreciate what others have done for them, constantly griping about things.  Nothing is sacred or taboo to them, and they have no natural affection.  As a result they do not hesitate to abort their own children, walk out on their families, or get involved in various forms of sexual perversion.  They don’t hesitate to break their word or lie about others, blaming them for their own actions.  They have no self-control, abusing others both physically and emotionally and hating those who try to do right.  They turn on their friends and have arrogant and superior attitudes.   They are more concerned about the social benefits or the emotional pleasure they get from the church activities, music, and teaching than they are with God’s word.  They may put on a very religious facade, but it doesn’t really affect how they live day by day.

People tend to adopt the attitudes and moral standards of those they associate with, and those who are not alert to the danger are easily led into sin by these kinds of people.   They may seem to be growing, learning and doing new and exciting things, but they never come to a point of being satisfied with their life or having a good relationship with God.  To avoid falling into the same pattern, we need to avoid people with these attitudes, and especially those who claim to be Christians, as I Corinthians 5: 11-13 tells us,   “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”