Wisdom and Worship by Association

ByMatt Fitzwater

I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that today’s verse of the day is Proverbs 13:20; the Old Testament reading is Psalm 53.

‘Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. ‘
Proverbs 13:20

I had a friend, Mike, who was a genius when it came to cars and could figure out anything mechanical. Mike got hooked on meth. He went to prison multiple times, and as soon as he got out, he’d stay clean for a while. Then he’d start hanging out with his old friends. He died of an overdose. He associated with fools.

‘Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! ‘
Psalms 53:1

These 2 verses made me reflect on who I need to walk with daily, who my friends are, and who is influencing me. What do I need to deny myself? I can hang out with Christians, but am I walking with the wise when I listen to music, watch shows, or social media that’s created by people who aren’t Christians?

One tactic the enemy uses is planting thoughts that are the exact opposite of how a Christian is supposed to behave. The thoughts don’t come from a flashing billboard; they are subtle, maybe a TV show that’s about getting revenge, a commercial that promotes lust, a song that might mention abusing drugs, or a one-night stand. If I watch a 2-hour movie created by a fool, I wasted 2 hours being counseled by the ungodly.

That’s why starting each day with prayer and Bible reading is crucial: it helps me focus on God throughout the day. True worship isn’t just singing praise songs on Sundays; it means living in right relationship with Christ and denying my sinful nature daily. That commitment is hard work and essential for walking wisely.

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