He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm. Proverbs 13:20 AMP
I believe the biggest challenge that today's extract poses is: How do I identify someone who is wise? This question lies at the root of today's extract and if we are able to answer it, then we can decipher the rest of the extract. As always, it starts with a choice that we all have to make. I have to decide if I really want to be wise, and if I am willing to pay the price to get there. There are people I will meet on the way to the fulfilment of God's purpose for my life. Who they are will impact my life, so I must be careful who I allow to impact my life in any way.
And when I have made up my mind on what I want to do, I must take the required steps: WALK. I can make noise, or I can walk. I can sit and criticise others, or I can walk. I can fold my arms and do nothing, or I can walk. I can blame others for my lot in life, or I can walk. In all of these options, I am doing something; I am busy at something. Men will see me and applaud my efforts, but the efforts are not directed in line with what God can bless. The question still remains: are you going to walk or do other things?
And when I have found a wise man, I must walk as a companion, not as a master, Lord or boss. Too many times, we want to be the centre of attraction; the queen bee. We want everybody to recognise the unction on our heads, and so we become controlling and domineering. We want men to take us as the complete article, forgetting that no man becomes all that God wants overnight. That's not God's process for those who would be truly wise. He takes you through a process. You walk as a companion, willing and ready to learn, mostly silent. You drop pretensions and hypocrisy and become immersed in the lessons. You open your heart to receive all that is available, so you can become the very best version of yourself. Eventually, what the wise person is and has will rub off on you.
That is key: you become whatever it is you attract. If I want to be wise, I must be attracted to wise people and spend time with them. I cannot spend time in a perfume shop and not come out smelling liek like roses. At the same time, I cannot spend time in a junkyard or a sewage tank and come out smelling like roses. My comfort zone speaks a lot about what my life will produce. And that is the essence of the latter part of today's extract. If I choose to associate with the foolish, my life will only produce in line with that association. I cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences of my choice. Whilst I have time, now is the time to watch and edit my companions, pursuits and priorities. Eternity is at stake. His time of favour is here.
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