Walk Not With Them
Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Intro: We are coming up several weeks of holidays, get-togethers, festivities and family reunions. This message just might come in handy over the next few weeks.
I think it is a good time to preach a good, biblical message on the importance of “separation.”
I’ve always been fascinated by watching people build relationships that you know is going to be a trainwreck.
I watch some young people gravitate to each other, and it’s like gunpowder and fire.
It’s like dropping a Mentos into a Coke. You know what is going to happen before it happens.
Why do people fall into the trap of the wrong crowd?
Most of the time, they don’t fall into the trap; they walk right into it with their eyes wide open!
ILLUSTRATION: I’ve heard parents say, “My son was a good boy, but he fell in with the wrong crowd.”
I hate to break it to you, but your son WAS the wrong crowd.
He didn’t get corrupted; he was already corrupt and gravitated to likeminded people.
I’ve broken this message down into three sections, and each one of these sections could be their own message.
I. The Reasoning that is Problematic
Reasons why people walk with the wrong people…
A. They are Irritated by the Labels
Refusing to walk with just anybody and everybody will cause you to be subject to criticism.
If the thought of somebody calling you names really bothers you, you’re in a world of trouble.
People will not understand your principles.
They will make hurtful, personal attacks against you and your character.
The world has resorted to labeling everyone that they don’t like.
· If you don’t walk with the sodomites, you’ll be called homophobic.
· If you don’t endorse the trans movement, you’ll be told you’re transphobic.
· If you preach the biblical roles of men and women, you’ll be called misogynistic.
· If you advocate for secure borders, you’ll be called xenophobic.
· Believing that Jesus is the Only Way will get you called Islamophobic.
And following God’s Word and being selective in who you walk with will also get you labeled.
· You’ll be called self-righteous.
· You’ll be called a Pharisee
· You’ll be called “holier-than-thou.”
· You’ll be told that you are critical, unloving, condescending, arrogant, mean and unChristlike.
Christians have allowed their fear of being labeled to coerce them into compromise far too long.
The Bible is clear – there are some people you and I have been commanded to not walk with!
B. They are Intimidated by the Loneliness
One of the greatest reasons why people choose to walk with the wrong people is they are afraid of being alone.
Being alone is not nearly as bad as being wrong.
There is an unhealthy and unwise need for some people to be with others; regardless of who it is.
The thought of serving God alone or away from others is unbearable.
Many of God’s choice servants that we find in the Bible went through seasons of great loneliness.
It’s better to be by yourself than to be with the wrong people.Isolation and solitude is a perfect time for reflection, meditation,
C. They are Indifferent to the Liabilities
There’s an old saying: “If you sleep with dogs, you’re gonna get fleas.”
You can’t hang with the wrong people and it not have a negative effect on you.
You will eventually become like those you walk with.
· Proverbs 29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
II. The Refraining that is Prudent
· Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
ILLUSTRATION: I do not look for a reason to break fellowship with people.
But I don’t mind telling you – I’ll do it in a heartbeat if it falls within one of these areas we’re about to preach on.
I have survived this long because I learned early in life how to REFRAIN MY FOOT FROM THEIR PATH!!!
I learned how to say goodbye and walk away without looking back.
I mastered the art of SELECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
I do not cultivate relationships with people that will pull me down, pull me out of church or away from God.
I do not have any desire to have any friends that will have a negative impact on me or my family.
I don’t care who they are.
The text is pretty clear – there are some people that you should refrain from.
Who is the “them” in verse 15? What path are we commanded to refrain from?
A. Refrain from the Counsel of the Ungodly
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Ungodly counsel will produce ungodly choices.
Ungodly choices will produce ungodly consequences.
Be very careful where you get your advice from, and who you ask for their opinion.
A carnal person will not and cannot give spiritual advice.
A backslidden person cannot give spiritual counsel.
A bitter and broken person cannot and should not be counseling anybody about anything.
B. Refrain from the Companions of the Unwise
· Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
It’s a sad fact, and it is a harsh reality, but some people are simply fools.
Hanging out with fools will result in your destruction.
Proverbs 4
· 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
· 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
· 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
· 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
· 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
C. Refrain from the Company of the Unfitting
Turn to 2 Thessalonians 3
· 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
· 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
The seriousness and the gravity of this verse could not be any clearer.
· Now we command you. – this is not a suggestion.
· In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – this is the authority behind this command
· That ye withdraw yourselves. – this is a personal decision and a very specific action
· From every brother. – this includes other believers and Christians
· That walketh disorderly. – this is the behavior that warrants the withdrawal.
· For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us… - find a different crowd to walk with
DISORDERLY: out of ranks (often so of soldiers), irregular, inordinate, immoderate pleasures, deviating from the prescribed order or rule
Notice this definition of DISORDERLY - out of ranks (often so of soldiers),
This is the crowd that rebels against formation; rules; guidelines; conduct becoming.
UNBECOMING CONDUCT means behavior more serious than slight, and of a material and pronounced character. It means conduct morally unfitting and unworthy, rather than merely inappropriate or unsuitable, misbehavior which is more than opposed to good taste or propriety.
Paul went on down further in the chapter to say this:
2 Thessalonians 3
· 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
· 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
· 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
1 Corinthians 5
· 9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
· 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
· 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
· 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
D. Refrain from the Compromise of the Unbiblical
Galatians 2
· 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
· 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
· 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
· 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
III. The Relationships that are Profitable
We preached for a while on who NOT to walk with. So, who’s left?
Who can you and I walk with and be protected and be safe from evil influences?
A. Walk with God
Enoch walked with God. (Genesis 5:24)
Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
You and I can too!
One thing is certain: if you’re walking with God, you can’t walk with the wrong crowd at the same time.
Spend time with God; talking to God; hearing His heartbeat and knowing His will.
That is KEY to all of this.
B. Walk with Good Men
· Proverbs 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Find godly people; spiritual people; people that know God and walk with God, and befriend them.
You may say, “But they are not fun.” Then you need to ask God to help you change your definition of fun.
If it has to be worldly, or fleshly, or carnal, or sexual, or off-color, or profane in order to be fun, you need to get right with God – possible need to get saved.
If being around people that love God and strive to “keep the path of the righteous” turns you off, you need to do some serious soul-searching and some deep reflection on your relationship with God.
Conclusion: Ask God to direct your path. Ask God to give you wisdom and discernment to know who to walk with and who not to walk with. He will!
· Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
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