Surrounding ourselves with those who influence us to participate in evil is a sure way of wasting our lives.  We gravitate towards those things or people that appeal to us.  I have seen it many times.  I’m sure you have as well.  A person will make friends with one who is involved in drinking, drugs, or stealing.  Before long, they are doing the same because of evil influences.

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”   Romans 12:21

I know of one instance in which this happened.  A woman, married, became involved with her friends who were taking drugs.  She started with prescription drugs and the abuse of them; gradually she became involved with illegal drugs.  She began stealing to support her habit.  She has been in and out of jail in two counties and is on probation in two as well.  She ruined her marriage and married one who had been in prison.  She was still on drugs the last I heard.  What a waste of a life.  And it all started with companions she should have walked away from.  Everyone is not our friend and we must be very careful in our choice of companions and those whom we spend time with; this includes family.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”    ~ Jim Rohn

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”    Romans 1:32

“Be not deceived:  evil communications corrupt good manners.”     I Corinthians 15:33

We run a great risk in dabbling with the world and all the enticements it offers.  If we are not vigilant, before long we will adopt the ways of the world, living as the world, talking as the world, behaving as the world because we are of the devil.  We cannot overcome evil by running with and participating in evil.  The only way we overcome evil is reading and practicing the Scripture.  If our hearts are filled with God, there will be no room for Satan.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”    James 4:7

“An old parrot flew out of a farm house and joined some crows in a watermelon field.  The farmer, not knowing this and wanting to protect the fruit of his labors, blasted them with his shotgun.  The results were three dead crows and one ruffled parrot with a missing toe.  The farmer tenderly took him home where the excited children gathered around and asked, “What did it?”  “Bad company!  Bad company!”  answered the parrot.

He spoke wiser than he knew.  His foolish choice of associates had endangered him.  So it is with man – bad days come from bad companions, and better days come from better associates.”      ~ Leroy Brownlow

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:  but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”    Proverbs

‘Tis better to be alone than in bad company.”    ~ George Washington

Eileen Light