Bad Company Ruins Good Morals

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise!

Be careful of the kind of company you keep.!

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1st Corinthians 15:33). Whatever will make you derail or lose focus in your course or belief and service to God, flee away from such; flee away from temptations. Remember Proverbs 13:20: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”.

As a believer and as one who preaches the gospel to get the unsaved saved, Isaiah used to believe that by associating with bad company, following them wherever they go, dining with them, and partying with them, he would be able to change them. After all, Jesus also dined with the tax collectors, and He said He had not come for the righteous but for sinners. He held tenaciously to that Bible verse while associating himself with bad company.

On a certain day, Isaiah (not real name) met some cultists in school, so he had this zeal to preach to them and get them saved. He tried talking to them, telling them about Christ, but none chose to listen to him. He felt that if he drew himself closer to them, dined, partied, and moved with them, he could change them, however, his efforts were all to no avail because their hearts were hardened to continue doing evil.

Even at that, Isaiah still did not give up on them; he still mixed with them regardless, still in this course of trying to change them.

Sometime later, Isaiah was caught up in an unfortunate fate while he partied with his cultist friends, who introduced him to other cult associations from different branches across the country. The general cult members from different branches, having seen Isaiah, were impressed with his appearance and felt he would be resourceful to them if he joined them. Isaiah’s cultist friends agreed with them and felt that since he was already so familiar with them, knowing their ins and outs, he should join them.

But there seemed to be a problem somewhere; he was a steadfast believer, so they felt he would be so stubborn and adamant as they would try to cajole him to join them. They had to solve their problem by mixing drugs in his drink.

Isaiah felt his cult friends could do nothing to harm him since they were already friends and they had been together for years. So, he drank the drink spiked with drugs given to him. This drink made him a dunce, totally unaware of his actions; he was no longer conscious of his actions. This gave them the chance to control him, easily initiate him, and make him do whatever they wanted him to do. They made him take an oath and blood covenant with them to forever be part of them, and if he tried leaving at any time, he would die. He did all this unconsciously.

They recorded his unconscious acts and used it to threaten him the moment he regained his memory that the deed had been done and nothing could be changed. And if he tried leaving, he would die.

Isaiah did not want to die, so he had to join them since he could not beat them. Now, from a believer, he became a cultist.

LESSON: Truly, you might have business with the proverbial bad company.

Perhaps you have something that would definitely bring you in contact with them, probably through classes, evangelical outreach, or more, but be warned; do not associate with them in order not to be tempted or lured into getting yourself involved in whatever they are doing.

Be wise and sensitive in your associations. Even if you care about them but they are unwilling to change, you can best pray for them but not associate with them, so they won’t corrupt your good manners.

2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? What fellowship has light with darkness?”

About the Author:

David Oletu, also known as The Eagledeye, is a young and dynamic storyteller, thought leader, and minister who is passionate about effecting positive changes in his space using his craft.

His writing prowess, cautionary tales, and words of wisdom have earned him recognition on a global stage, impacting thousands of young people. It has also made him a recipient and winner of multiple writing award categories.

People often say that he is a writer whose words are deeper than the surface of the ocean, prophetic, visionary, and highly inspiring. They also described him as that eagle standing on the mountaintop, watching the different states of men with his eyes twinkling like a night watcher, carefully observing the troubles of humanity, which seem hidden in the dark, but with his craft, he sets and creates a path to light.

He hopes that whatever written or spoken words he imparts bring clarity, hope, and balance to the minds of his audience.

Anticipate this weekly column as David Oletu dishes out these words, weaved in the form of short stories and articles that capture every bit of human behavior and experience, to teach, correct, and inspire.