“The birds of a feather flock together,” goes an old saying. The inaccuracy of this saying is that it implies I don’t have a choice of the company I keep. Solomon states, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” The fact is I choose who are my friends and who I associate with.
How this is implemented depends on my current social state. If I have companions who refuse to have a personal relationship with Jesus, then I should not remain in a close relationship. Determining if another has a personal relationship with Christ is not so easy to determine. When I was a new Christian in my late teens the mother of a young lady I began dating convinced her believing daughter that she should not date me, an unbeliever who did not go to their church. Though the young lady witnessed to others, twice she ended our relationship as her mother directed without knowing the secret that I had asked Jesus to forgive my sins and take full control of my life.
I recognize that Solomon is not saying I should not interact with someone living a life full of foolish decisions. Jesus told his Father, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) Jesus and the apostles interacted with all, and the result was that some turned to a life of faith in God. So I am to choose who are my close friends and choose to treat others with respect though I should not make them frequent and close companions.
