We live our lives each day by making choices. And our choices decide whether we shall succeed or fail. It is a prudent choice to avoid negative influences that ruin the lives of godly men. One way to avoid a negative influence is to avoid bad company. Take heart if you have reached a point in life where you have decided to distance yourself from or avoid certain negative influences, such as bad friends or bad company. This is because the Bible profoundly endorses such a decision. Here are some helpful verses:
- Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 ESV)
- Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV)
- My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (Proverbs 1:10 ESV)
- my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, (Proverbs 1:15 ESV)
- I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation. (Jeremiah 15:17 ESV)
- Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. (Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV)
- God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:13 NIV)
- But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. (1 Corinthians 5:11 NIV)
In conclusion, avoiding bad company is a prudent decision for every child of God. And it is nothing more than shunning the company of people who negatively influence your life. Do not join or affiliate with people who engage in ungodly conversations, who believe and practise ungodliness, and who have evil intent to malign, mock, and destroy others.