Isn’t it always a pleasure to be in great company? How about having being in a company with someone whom each of you could probably finish each others sentences? There was an elderly couple eating at a local restaurant, and while the wife was sitting there, the waitress saw she wasn’t eating. She came up to her and asked, “Maam, is your food satisfactory,” and without hesitation she replied, “I don’t know yet, I’m waiting for my dentures.” This couple was so much in tuned with each other, even their teeth was a match. Not sure exactly how that would work.
There is so many advantages in friendships, and without a doubt, everyone on earth requires friendship. God manifests friendship as a most honorable thing to have. I’m sure many of you remember the norman rockwell art. His displays resembled very pleasant scenery of Christmas and other seasons. Families sitting and smiling cheerfully around the table, enjoying the festivities with all the splendor and color of a cheerful day with ones they appeared to love and cheerish. Its rather mesmerizing to think just how neat it would be to live a life knowing those that we call friends and even family, can shine brightly in our lives with honor, good moral and respect. Yet, I’m afraid to say, we are seeing a picture here that is not well described for most people, and maybe including some of us here today.
Earlier this year, The New York Times posted an article titled, “How many friends do we really need?” In this full layout article, it was reported that friendship in America has been in decline for some time, and a trend that accelerated during the pandemic. Three decades ago, 3 percent of Americans told the polls they had no close friends; in 2021, an online poll put it at 12 percent. About a year into the pandemic, 13 percent of women and 8 percent of men age 30 to 49 said they’d lost touch with most of their friends. Then the article exhorted a statement from a Dr. Hall that claimed, very close friendships tend to take around 200 hours to develop. Quantity and quality go hand-in-hand. Not knowing if these statistics are entirely accurate, it does beg the question, are we mindful with the company we keep?
If I was to ask you, in your heart of hearts, how fond are you of those you are around more often than not? Would you say that you tolerate them to the point where you love them, but hate to hurt their feelings with the truth? Do you like certain aspects of them to just qualify them to be in your presence once in a while? Do you hang around them because of prestige, clout or even charisma? Are there people in your life just because they been around for so long, your use to them, the good and the bad? These are just a few examples to ask ourselves in hoping to answer the question. In starting our journey today, we will look a little closer into what company we keep with what Paul tells us in his second epistle to the thessalonians that withdrawing from brothers and sisters is necessary, if they walk disorderly. So lets start in chapter 3 v. 6.
Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother or sister who leads a disorderly life and not one in accordance with the tradition which you received from us.
If I was to stop there in the passage, that would have been enough leverage to gain the understanding that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, is telling the people of Thessalonia and us today, the company we keep is in direct obedience with Gods command. Living disorderly is something we should avoid. However, Paul doesn’t stop there. In verse 11 Paul states, “For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” Now the word busybody has many meanings, but what paul is plainly saying here, idle hands are the devils playground. People that cause separation, division and willful disobedience are to be withdrawn from our presence. Just as our body, the temple, is to be righteous and holy, such is our lives, being the temple of God.
You see, when we are not working for God and His purpose, we are at an extreme danger to stray into the wrong direction of life. When the children are hanging around with the wrong crowd, when adults keep company of others that are not so spiritually clean, it doesn’t mean we can’t be Christ’s ambassadors and shine as an example in their presence, but it does suggest our walk can be tainted if we are not careful.
Psalms 1 tells us “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”
This may sound painful and down right obligatory for some, but entirely necessary. You see, the second epistle served a purpose to clarify, correct and even counsel people regarding Christ second coming and the theme of the two epistles was to elaborate on the return of Christ and the way believers should live period. In addition to all of that, we are reminded that we are to live a Christ centered life and stand waiting of His second coming, which is also known as the day of Christ. But for the people of Thessalonia, and us today, we are to remember and respond towards what company we keep that can and will hinder our walk with God, if we are NOT CAREFUL.
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would follow our example.
Its rather simple to see here that when someone is unruly, undisciplined in an ungodly way, their character as a role model is tarnished and the testimony is null and void. Paul is plainly saying, Christians cannot live a double standard. One foot in heaven and the other in hell.
A little girl said to her teacher, ”Teacher, I don’t want to scare you, but my dad said, If my grades don’t improve, someone’s going to get a spanking!” The child is in for a rude awakening. The teacher isn’t responsible for the child’s grades. We each are responsible for our own actions and behavior. We can’t pass the buck and we can’t avoid our attitude. We each need to walk carefully with our fellowman which does not mean avoidance, but full withdraw from the influence of those that are undisciplined. The fruit they have, bears witness.
In 1 Corinthians 15 it tells us, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Psalm 26:4-5 “I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.” Proverbs 22, Do not make friends with a person given to anger, Or go with a hot-tempered person, 25 Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself. Are you starting to get the picture?
A true story. There are people me and my wife know that even though they displayed Godly character, their motive was all but Godly. As a result, a church divided and peoples spirit crushed due to the keeping of bad company. Behind the scenes, the fruit they bared was undisciplined. But what Paul is telling us clearly in the message today, we are to withdraw and not be influenced by troublemakers not just in our churches, but in our personal lives!
In verse 14 Paul clearly states to not associate with those who go against Pauls instructions in living a Godly life. 1 Cor. 9 Paul tells us “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” You see, the Gospel of Christ is our resource, our food to live by. If we are eating from a bad tree, we will not produce good behavior. Listen to what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew ch. 7. “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Where is there solace in knowing our actions has consequences? It’s the reality of truth! Just as we are responsible behind the wheel of a car, so are we with our journey of life, knowing full well we cannot live and walk a Christian life without Christ! We can attempt on our own strength, to not sin, to walk Godly, but its all in vain without Christ. The word Christian would not exist without Christ.
During the fourteenth century Raynald III, was a duke in what is now Belgium. As the result of a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward successfully revolted against him. When Edward captured Raynald he built a room around him featuring windows and a door and promised him that the day he left the room his title and property would be returned to him in full and with no reservation.
The problem with this arrangement was that Raynald was grossly overweight and could not fit through the openings in the room. Raynald needed to lose weight before he could leave the room. Edward knew that his older brother could not control his appetite and sent him delicious food every day. As you may imagine, Raynald grew fatter during this time.
Anytime someone accused Duke Edward of treating Raynald cruelly he said: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year. He was a prisoner of his own appetite.
Just as Raynald was enslaved by his appetite, sin will enslave all those who yield to it. We each are to be a good disciple to discipline ourselves accordingly. If we are fed wrongly, we will get fat with sin. We each are subject to our own choices. Did you know, we each can actually dig our own grave in life? Sabotage our own lives if we are not careful?
In closing friends, it is wise words that we each receive and respond to today in understanding the company we keep. When someone enters our life, whether family or friends, and ungodly trouble follows, we are to do what barney fife so cleverly said, “We have to nip it in the bud!” Then we are to confront them in a Godly way. Listen to Galatians chapter 6, “Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.”
When we look at people in front of us who do us wrong, remember they are NOT the enemy. The devil behind it is! We are to urgently help others to get in step with the army of believers in Christ and walk faithfully in obedience to the word of God. If they do not respond to the truth, you cannot help that. But its in our realm to remember, do all things in Godly love, not vengeance. Do all things with the intent to serve God faithfully, not with an arterial motive. As it says in verse 13, “…brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” So friends, let us be alert and keep in mind, whom is in our company! Christ should always be first, Amen.