Beware of Evil Friends

Man is a social being. God made him so. “It is not good for man to be alone” applies also in this broader sense. The average man does not like to be alone. To be “forsaken” is to be cursed. Men have gone insane in the loneliness of their cabins in the frozen wastes of the northland, far away from the company of their fellow-men, or in the solitary confinement of their prison cells. If the Lord works saving conviction within us, it can be that we retreat at times from the company of our fellowmen for quiet and rest, for prayer and meditation, as the Lord Jesus did. Before long, however, we will go out again and seek the company of others. Those who believe that the devil cannot enter locked doors are sadly mistaken. He goes about in the loneliness of the cloister just as freely as on the crowded thoroughfares of our cities. God wants us to be kind, friendly to all. “Be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (2 Timothy 2:24b). We have to learn to see in every living human being an immortal soul which needs conversion and instruction on his journey to eternity.

Nevertheless, though a Christian lives in the world, he is not to be of the world. His companions must be chosen carefully. Do you know what good company is? It is what the apostle testifies in Acts 2:44, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” The world cannot and does not share with God’s people that which is, and always must be, uppermost in our heart.

Let us not walk in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of the scornful. It has been correctly said that “wicked companions invite us to hell.” May God give us the courage to turn away from such.

God’s Word tells us, “Lovers of their own selves.” By nature, man is self-centered, an egoist. The one who always thinks and speaks in the first-person singular, “I”, is a bad influence and poor company for a true Christian. Such can say mildly, “Everyone must live his own life,” but this means, being interpreted, “Shall I be my brother’s keeper?” Do we feel at home in the company of those who are cold of heart?

How can you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and enter into intimate friendship with those who seek only money and what money can buy? How can we worship God, the living God, and admire a person who in all his waking hours bows down to the golden calf? Pity,

not admiration, is all we can have in our heart for such idol-worshippers.

Do we not often make the mistake of turning toward such persons—and then not to tell them their fault but to court their friendship? The Lord tells us, “From such turn away!” How can a child of God sit in the seat of the scornful? If those who mock God are your friends, how long will it be before you begin to think and speak as they? Remember Peter! He stood with the servants and warmed himself at the fire for a time, but when he heard the cock crow, he came out from their company, weeping bitterly.

I wish to say a few words in particular to young people and children. If you find that one of your friends or playmates is disobedient to his parents, speaks disrespectfully of his parents, kindly reprove him or her for that sin. If he/she persists in sin, there is but one thing for you to do. God tells you, “From such turn away.” Tell me with whom you play, and I shall tell you who you are.

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is the unholy trinity which wrong friends worship. In the end this trinity reaps eternal disaster. Although people can speak in our days about “new freedom,” “no inhibitions,” “no restrictions,” may it please the Lord to teach us, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” I know in many lives it is now, “Let us have fun.” They read unprofitable books and magazines, visit movie-theaters, and indulge in sin for one purpose—to get a thrill out of it. We pray you, “From such turn away.”

People will call you old-fashioned, but there are some things which are always up-to-date and contemporary, even today. Those are the things which God has ordained. What God makes is still “very good.” God is still “up-todate” in His holy Word, in the realm of revelation.

Jesus suffered for poor sinners and will redeem them at a great price. Therefore, it would be a miracle if we could rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. You can read this of Peter and the other apostles. They were in prison and had to go through many tribulations, but the Lord tells us in Acts 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” May the Lord give such light in our heart, and may we turn to Him and His Word rather than to the evil influences of our fellow-men. Beware of evil friends!

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