True Believers Ought To Be Cautious Of The Association They Keep
King Rehoboam had a good father, but he failed to follow his footsteps. Rehoboam, who succeeded his father King Solomon received and followed the wrong counsel of his peers. His foolishness caused him dearly. He lost credibility of his citizens and eventually lost a larger part of his kingdom to someone who had no royal blood. The scripture reported;
“…And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.’” (2 Chronicles 10:3-4). “So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, ‘Come back to me the third day.’ Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’”(12-14). “Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: ‘What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now see to your own house, O David!’ So all Israel departed to their tents” (2 Chronicles 10:16).
Avoid Bad Association Like A Plague
Wrong association corrupts good people; the children of God must avoid any relationship that can affect their standing with God. Ungodly people may care less about meeting God’s expectations, therefore we must not follow their footsteps. There are consequences for sinful actions, and we must ensure to not associate with those who practice evil. It is dangerous to follow bad counsels, which are mostly offered by people who have no desire for God – the ungodly people. Their counsels are likely to centralize on satisfying the desires of the flesh, which are sinful in the sight of the Lord.
God’s children are obligated to put God first in whatever they do! We are trained to prioritize obedience above our human desires! Believers must be careful to not share common practices of evil people. We must steer clear of every association that leads us away from Christ. We must follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ and ensure to uphold His principles. The Spirit of God that dwells in us will enable us to make the right decisions. Also, we can obtain godly guidance from fellow Christians – as we prayerfully consider them.
Pray To Prioritize Association Appropriately
Dear God, please give me the grace not to follow the multitude in their evil practices. Do not let me follow the wrong counsel! Please empower me through your Holy Spirit to make decisions that will benefit me and your kingdom. Let my thought and actions glorify your Holy name at all times. For in the name of Jesus Christ, I make my requests. Amen.
Remember: Bad Association Can Lead To Bad Judgement