“Never listen to the voice of a man, who doesn’t listen to the voice of GOD”
Currently there are some professional athletes who are protesting what they perceive as a social injustice by refusing to stand during the playing of our National Anthem. Now I resist the urge to write about this particular action and the fact their very right to behave in this manner is given them by the nation they are protesting. Pretty sad…
I wish to point out the influence these professional athletes have on the younger generation. It should come as no surprise we are now reading where high school students across the country are doing the same thing on Friday nights. I don’t mean to paint with a broad brush but I say in most cases these younger athletes are not protesting, they are imitating. They are just being influenced by their role models.
When I look back on my life I have had some good mentors. These role models set a good example for me. Whether it was a work ethic, serving our fellowman, or just by modeling a good outlook on life in general, I learned much from these men. They all influenced me in a very positive way.
Unfortunately, I can also see those in my life whom I now realize influenced me negatively. I suppose I am not alone in this regard.
There are many examples of being influenced for evil in the Scriptures. Read the account of the friendship between Absalom’s half-brother, Amnon and Jonadab in 2 Samuel 13. This friendship and influence led to the rape of Amnon’s sister, Tamar. In one of my Bibles, I have written in the margin of this passage, “some friend” with a cross reference to 1 Corinthians 15:33. The NIV renders this passage, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Jonadab was bad company.
Another example is found in Matthew 14. King Herod beheaded John the Baptist after making a rash vow. The scriptures say he was sorry, but because of his oath and because of those who sat with him, he executed John. Those who sat with him obviously had a negative influence on him. They were bad company.
Let us be wary of those in our life that would influence us negatively. Galatians 5:7-8, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.” There may be those in our lives that will “hinder us from obeying the truth.”
If we read just one more verse in Galatians we see that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. It really only takes one “bad company” friend to cause us to lose our spiritual focus. Let us be ever aware of the influence of those we call our friends and choose them carefully.
If we just had the wisdom, as we live our lives, to adhere to the quote in the subtitle above. Never listen to the voice of a man who doesn’t listen to the voice of GOD. If we only admired and followed those who followed GOD!
Paul said it in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ.”
And again in Philippians 4:9 he says, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the GOD of peace will be with you.”
Paul in essence is saying, “Don’t do as I say, do as I do.”
Let us choose our friends carefully. May our friends be those who will help us grow closer to GOD.
But let us also realize the influence we have on those around us. We also are being looked to as examples. We owe it to our friends to be a positive influence on them. And to that end let us ask ourselves this question, “Are we a Paul or a Jonadab?”