Don’t Linger Too Long
Day seven: Don’t linger too long
“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.”
—Ps. 1:1
The Psalmist here describes a progression that he advises us to avoid. We may not be able to avoid those who are the wicked, those with evil intent, who would take us with them on the road to self-destruction, but we have a choice whether to continue to keep their company or not
Solomon repeatedly warns his own son in Proverbs not to “walk in the way with them…for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood (1:15).” Many Christians think they can keep bad company and not be affected by their negative influence. Paul states emphatically in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character (15:33).”
This is not to say we are to avoid relating to those who have not accepted Christ as their Lord, but we are not to “walk in the way with them,” meaning to live the same lifestyles, pursue the same pleasures, go to some of the same places, and do some of the same things. Our walk must be different and must offer to them a better way than the one they are pursuing.
The concern that we need to have is whether we are the one influencing or the one being influenced. We might try to make the case that we are called to be a witness to the world, but as Paul tells the Corinthians, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall (10:11).” Again, in Galatians, Paul writes, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted (6:1).”
Even beyond that, we may simply be guilty by association. Again, I am not advocating we treat those outside the faith as one of the untouchables. I am reminded of a pastor I know who would go to a local gentleman’s club and hang out with the dancers, even going so far as to offer a Bible study there until one of the owners refused to allow her to be there. By this means she was able to bring some of these ladies to Christ. However, she was a pastor and no one had any serious doubts about her motives. They knew her and knew this to be her approach to the way she did ministry. Had it been one of our male pastors, I am not certain it would have been the right thing to do.
Solomon wrote, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches (Prov. 22:1).” I have often shared with my own son the importance of having a good reputation. It takes so little to ruin someone’s reputation if that is what someone is trying to do. We need to be careful not to give them something to use to make their job easier.
David writes in Ps. 1: “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.” Solomon must have thought this was good advice as he passed it on to his own son, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it: turn away from it and pass on (Prov. 4:14-15).” Could either of them have been more clear?!
What David writes and Solomon reiterates is pretty clear—stay away from the wicked, those who rebel against God, who would lead you astray. Don’t stop, don’t slow down, do not even give it a second thought. In fact, we are encouraged as Paul wrote the Corinthians to “take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5).” That is the key to conducting ourselves in the way we are taught in Scriptures.
Rather than putting our efforts all into trying not to do the wrong things, we need to strive to “live by the Spirit (Gal. 5:24).” For “those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5).” This is ultimately what makes us sons and daughters of God and gives us our identity apart from the world.
Read Psalm 1 and reflect upon what is meant by David in the first few verses. What has God cautioned you about in terms of where you should be walking, standing, or sitting? What may he be warning you about even now? Read Romans 8. What is the Spirit convicting you of in terms of what you need to do in order to live by the Spirit?
