Guard Against Ungodly Influence

Who you choose to surround yourself with matters.

Proverbs 2:12 says this, “Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted.”

The American King James Version says it this way, understanding shall keep you; “To deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks fraudulent things.”

And honestly how often are we hurt and often even destroyed by the “fraudulent” things that others say?  (Note: fraudulent means: deceitful, deceptive, crooked, underhanded.)

When speech is corrupt, the heart behind it is corrupt, and when we allow ourselves to pay too close attention to it or commune too long with it, we become infected by its influence.

My commentary says this, “Everything dies under the influence of wickedness.”

 

Wow.

Think about the tree frog and how it’s colors change by the shift in atmosphere.  When they are have adhered themselves to the bark of a tree, their color is changed to a brown.  When they have attached themselves to the leaf of the same tree, their hue is altered to reflect the vibrant green of that object.

The same is with you and me.
Our countenance and character is often adjusted by the acquaintances we keep.

Our companions tell others a lot about us.

My commentary goes on to say this, “How dangerous it is to gaze on a picture or scene that pollutes the imagination or blunts the moral perceptions, or has a tendency to deaden a sense of our duty to God and man!”

We cannot afford to even GAZE UPON a scene that pollutes our imagination.
Because the mind is a powerful thing and can conjure up within a heart once so yielded to Jesus, improper realities that lead us into the very evil we are praying to steer clear from.

The word influence has a synonym attached to it.  And that word is “authority.”
We must keep a protective watch over who we’re giving permission to - who we’re allowing to influence our lives.  Keep guard over ungodly influence lest we fall into the same deadening affect.

Surround yourself with likeminded people who are headed into a godly pursuit like you.  Beware of those things you’re allowing your eyes to behold.

And sometimes that means going alone for a season until God leads you to the right one(s) who can have proper influence over your life.

But keep pursuing - even if it’s for the one.  One can be your tribe too!