Walking with the Wise

​Proverbs 13:20 ~ “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
 
Have you ever evaluated the company you keep? There is a journey that all of us will travel, a road through life that we must navigate correctly. Much of what we discover and the way that we often go is influenced by those to whom we associate. Our LORD Jesus warned us in Matthew 15:14, “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” This was in response to His disciples when they told Jesus that the Pharisees were offended by the LORD’s words. My dear Christian, the world is often offended by the word of God. Do not hearken to them, for they, like the Pharisees, are blind guides.
 
There is such a difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God. James describes the difference for us. We see the wisdom of the world in James 3:14-15, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” However, the wisdom that is from God is described in James 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” As we consider our text for today, let me ask you a simple question: with which “wisdom” would you prefer to keep company?
 
Our text opens with a simple premise, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.” Let’s begin with the idea that you’re on a walk. This is not a run, sprint or marathon that you’re racing to finish. This is a walk, a journey, an intentional and determined progression from one point of life to another. One of the most detrimental statements ever made of a group of people is in John 6:66, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” After what? The LORD Jesus spoke words that were hard. He told them of the absolute exclusivity of His salvation. He told them that without Him, they will never have life. And, just as the world does when it hears the hard truth come from Christ, they turn aside and walk away. They would not walk with the One who is wisest of all. Compare that to the two men on the road to Emmaus. As they journeyed and Jesus talked with them, they begged the LORD to stay with them, “So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent’” (Luke 24:28-29). Why did they desire His company? Read Luke 24:32, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
 
Who do you journey with? What companions keep you company on the way you go through life? I would implore you to walk with those who are wise—those who have journeyed with Christ according to His word and can give you His instruction along the course that you travel. You will find that God’s promises are true, and that you will grow wiser as you go.
 
The second half of our text today is a warning, “but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” The interesting idea of this companionship is derived from “one who stops to graze.” That is, foolish companions are not moving anywhere, but have stopped in the field of worldly desires and have determined to graze together. They have no desire to grow in wisdom, but they are quite content to enjoy their own foolish delights. Psalm 1:1 gives us the downward progression, “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.” They begin with walking, but then they decide to stand, then, finally they take a seat and remain comfortable in their foolishness. And, unlike those who walk with the wise, the companion of fools will suffer harm. They will often come to some ruin that is the result of foolishness. Consider the example given to us in Proverbs 22:24-25, “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
 
Beloved, bad company corrupts good character (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). Just as the one walking with the wise grows wise, so the one who takes companionship with the foolish will find their foolishness to rub off on them. It may not be something that many people consider, but you will grow to be like those with whom you pal around.
 
So, let us keep close fellowship with those who love the LORD and seek to walk according to His word. Then, as promised, we will grow more and more to be like Christ.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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