BAD COMPANY

In a dream recently a quote from the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians came to me: “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” In another version it reads, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Morals are principles of behavior or character. Bad company (companions) can be old friends, relatives, and co-workers, obviously anyone. From experience it is likely we already know whom to avoid as bad company.

Another thought that came to me was bad company (companions) might not be people at all but rather Internet choices, movies, videos, books, email and text jokes that are politically cruel, racist, evil, sexist, etc. Other bad companions… might be food choices, exercise choices, wasted time, over work, or making mental excuses for the way we live.

Additionally, bad company might be keeping company with anger, rejection, fear, hopelessness, prejudice, bitter judgments, etc. Or keeping company with religion, legalism, performance… all of this corrupts (ruins) good morals and judgment.

“Sleep with dogs and you wake up with fleas.”

The Book of Proverbs says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Jesus