Proverb A Day, Proverb 13 (Be Wise, Give Up Foolish Friends)

Bible NKJV ^ | 900 B.C. | Solomon

[OneVike]

You are the company you keep. This well-known saying is a short and weak version of God's true warning;

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverb 13:20

Without a doubt, this could be one of the most important Proverbs a Christians can learn, and probably the most important lesson for Christian parents. At the least, it is one of the most valuable lessons any Christian can learn if they desire to prosper in life.

What a simple rule for wisdom and life! Get rid of foolish friends, and only choose wise people to be friends with. You will grow in wisdom and avoid much trouble in life. Think about the best way an athlete can get better at their chosen sport. They go against superior competition to bring out their best, even if it means frequent training losses. You are only as good as the competition, so the better the competition the better you will be. This is why, as a rule, the best athletes come from larger metropolitan areas. There is more completion than there is in small rural areas.

However, for those top athletes, they also have more temptation they must overcome. In big cities there are constantly confronted by friends who would rather take the easy road. This road is full of obstacles that can hold an athlete back. Athletes are especially tempted by childhood friends they grew up with who get into drugs and easy money, but if they can stay clear of them they are then confronted by the girls who want to be the top athletes girlfriend. There are many foolish people who unwittingly can destroy a good athletes future. How many times have we seen elite athletes attain their goals of becoming one of the best in their sport just to crash and burn, because they failed to leave their foolish friends behind.

Like top athletes, so too is the life of a Christian. Satan is continually putting obstacles in our way to bring us down, so he can destroy the joy we have gained. One of the biggest mistakes born again Christians can make, is to continue hanging with foolish friends. A person will give their life to Christ and begin turning their life around. We get excited about the freedom we gained through Christ over our sins and we want to share that joy with our friends. Sadly, too many times it is our closest and best friends who reject the word. Instead of bringing our old friends to Christ, Satan begins to use our old friends to lure us back into their old ways and away from Christ.

The Scriptures tell us to;

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 1 Corinthians 15:33<

. Paul added this warning in his epistle to the Corinthians, because many were being led back into sin. Many may believe that their friends would never tempt them, but we know that anyone who rejects the Gospel is not of Christ, which makes them a son of Satan, and thus Satan will eventually use them to lure you back into your old way of life. So once we give our lives to Christ, we are not to look back at our old ways, and do not to act like we did before.

Consider if you will, the first step in Lot's journey to living in a cave with nothing but his two daughters pregnant by his incest. How did it come about? Well in Genesis chapter 13 we read that he moved his family East to the Plains of Jordan near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. We know that Lot made friends and became a respected leader, because he would sit on the Gate of the city, which is where the leaders of the city would sit and discus matters of importance. (Genesis 19:1).

What a disaster for him, because he even lost his wife who became a pillar of salt. She longed for what she lost and lost her soul for it. To look back is to long for that which you gave up, and those who are not of Christ will lead those who are of Christ away from Christ. Be not deceived, to allow any evil input into your life, will eventually cause you will lose your good manners, and as happened to Lot's wife, you could lose your soul .(Genesis 19:17)

As Christians, we must especially be aware who our children befriend. Good Christian parents will make schooling decisions based upon what is best for their children. Thus they will either find a good Christian based private school, or they may just home school their children to protect them from being indoctrinated into accepting the evils of the world.

Often times I see those same parents fail to pay attention to who their children befriend and hang out with. Christians also need to monitor every friend, for foolish friends are as great threat to Christian's as the schools they keep them from attending. After all, if your child is hanging out with kids who are indoctrinated by the evil school, then those children could influence your kids with their beliefs.

I know it is not healthy to completely shelter our children, but there are measures parents can take to be more aware of who their children are hanging around. This is one of the most important things you can do for the success of your children. Read the proverb again. The results are certain, but children and youth are not wise enough to choose their own friends, so you must reduce their choices to those meeting the criteria.

Fools cannot be real friends to a child of God. It is impossible, for they are incompatible by nature. They have nothing of value to offer. What is a fool? They do not fear God. So ignore your feelings or past history, and cut off your foolish friends, and protect your family from foolish ungodly people. Remember;

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverb 1:7

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:17-20

Proverb 13 (NKJV)


Wisdom Loves Righteousness

01 A wise son heeds his father's instruction,
00 But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

02 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
00 But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
03 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
00 But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

04 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
00 But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

05 A righteous man hates lying,
00 But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
06 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
00 But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

07 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
00 And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

08 The ransom of a man's life is his riches,
00 But the poor does not hear rebuke.

09 The light of the righteous rejoices,
00 But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By pride comes nothing but strife,
00 But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
00 But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
00 But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,
00 But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
00 To turn one away from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding gains favor,
00 But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
00 But a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
00 But a faithful ambassador brings health.

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,
00 But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
00 But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
00 But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 Evil pursues sinners,
00 But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
00 But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
00 And for lack of justice there is waste.

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
00 But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
00 But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

[OneVike]

[OneVike]

I wrote a commentary on Proverb 13:20
He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

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22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
00 But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

Amen

And the meek will inherit the earth.