We all know people who want to make good changes in their lives but keep going back to the same environment. Perhaps you know of an alcoholic that wants to quit drinking but spends time in bars and clubs. Or you may know a drug addict who wants to quit but spends his time mostly with friends who are also addicts. These situations are extremes but we can all fall into the trap of doing bad things, simply because we hang out with the wrong people and go back to old ways of doing things. You have probably heard the saying, “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
The Bible says something similar in Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
In these verses there is a downward progression into evil. We start by simply accommodating the counsel of those who do wrong. Then we find ourselves in their places doing the evil that they do. Finally we find ourselves comfortable with the evil, consistently amongst wrongdoers.
The way to victory over this downward spiral is spending time in God’s Word. Read it. Study it. Meditate upon it. If we do these things our minds will be cleansed. We will bear good fruit and we, ourselves, will find that we are dwelling in God’s favor and goodness.
Reluctant Retiree 