One of the greatest factors that determine one’s progress in life is Association. This factor goes a long way in making or marring the destiny of an individual.
The root of every destroyed or fulfilled destiny can in one way or another be traced or linked with the kind of people one associated with. The company we keep is not limited to our friends alone, it goes a long way beyond that.
It could be anyone, any organization or club. Let’s take a look at the life of King Solomon from the Bible.
1st Kings 11:1-8;
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2. Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
7. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
We can see from the verses above that even the very wives of Solomon ended up destroying his long built relationship with God.
He had all the wisdom but the wrong association became a stumbling block for him and because of this, Israel was torn apart and taken from the house of David.
It doesn’t matter how great or anointed one can be, once you get involved with the wrong association, destruction is imminent and inevitable.
1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
The wrong company destroys but the right company preserves and builds one up. Observe that in the aforementioned verse, we are warned by the Apostle to avoid being misled. The question is misled by what?
We are to avoid being misled by the thought that the only way to convert unbelievers is by being close friends with them. This is false and not biblical!
Jesus never taught communion with unbelievers; even though he ate with sinners, they were never among His close clique. Do not be deceived that you’re too strong or wise to be badly influenced by unbelievers.
Solomon was not just strong, he was wise; he was the wisest man of his time. Yet, his fall was the most disastrous of kings.
DAVID AND JONATHAN (1 Samuel 18)
Jonathan loved, protected and cherished David like a brother.
Jonathan was selfless – he gave David several gifts including his sword and his garment. These two youths stayed loyal and faithful to one another inspite of the enmity between Saul and David.
True friendship saves and protects. Jonathan saved David from Saul’s wrath.
– Have friends who are passionate about the things of God.
– Have vision-driven friends.
– Have friends who are compatible with your future. There are folks that if we allow into our personal space will become obstruction to our future goals.
Finally, do not be hesitant to separate from a friend who seems to be a stumbling block to your success. Abraham separated from Lot and Paul wasn’t reluctant in separating from Barnabas.
KOINONIA ART 