 |
|
| Volume 25 Number 12 December 2023 |
Page 10 |
|
|
| Volume 25 Number 12 December 2023 |
Page 10 |
Surrounding Yourself
with Quality People
Proverbs 13:20
Jimmy Clark
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV). While wisdom involves a great many correct choices, there is one particular aspect of wisdom that is addressed here. It is the choice of close influences. The child of God is warned, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). How important was it for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, to surround himself with the right kind of people? How important is it that the President of the United States have advisors who are wise as the Bible defines wisdom? What about the influences affecting young people of today? One should give close attention to the inspired proverb that Solomon gave because its practical information is timeless. Consider three particulars concerning surrounding oneself with the right kind of people.
Identification of Who Is and Is Not Wise
It should be obvious from a brief reading of Proverbs 13:20 that not everyone is wise. The latter part of the proverb speaks of destruction, which Proverbs repeatedly addresses. These proverbs are “to give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 1:4). Note a passage that shows the distinctiveness of a wise person. “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5). Paul told the young man Timothy where wisdom is found when he wrote, “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Therefore, wise people respect the Bible and the God of the Bible.
Implication of Needing Wise People
No man lives in isolation. The Lord God made man to be a sociable being. Even Jesus came into the world to be around people. Man is born into a family and will ultimately realize that there are a great many influences through other people outside his or her family. Friendships will arise and commonality of interests will be formed. If one is truly wise, he will seek the influence of spiritual intelligence. That first relationship of wisdom is God. Solomon penned, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7), and “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). All truly wise people have sought God and His divine revelation for their knowledge and wisdom. A close relationship to God and His communication alongside of those who think and operate like that supplies the intelligence needed by the mind and the soul.
Increasing Wisdom by being Around the Wise
Solomon stated, “He who walks with wise men will be wise…”(Proverbs 13:20). Wisdom involves increasing mental capacity. No one is like God who knows all. However, one can become his best through a positive trajectory of increasing his knowledge about divine revelation. Peter understood the need to be close to Jesus (John 6:68). God designed the church that it “…causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love”(Ephesians 4:16). It is much easier to do right and learn more wisdom by being around God’s people.
