KEEPING COMPANY
I Corinthians 5:9-11
"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of this world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person."
Holiness means separation from sin, not necessarily sinners. Some Christians think that to be holy, one has to become a hermit or join a monastery, or live in a Christian commune or community. There are unrighteous people even in church. Only death will truly separate us from sin and sinners. The act of living unavoidably puts us in contact with sinners. However, Paul advises not to "keep company" – that is, associate or develop close friendships – with immoral people because "evil company corrupts good habits" (I Corinthians 15:33). Just as spending time with ungodly people will drag me down, even so spending time with righteous people will encourage holy living.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Godly friendships encourage godly living.
Have an "encouraging" day. Love you.
I Corinthians 5:9-11
"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of this world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person."
Holiness means separation from sin, not necessarily sinners. Some Christians think that to be holy, one has to become a hermit or join a monastery, or live in a Christian commune or community. There are unrighteous people even in church. Only death will truly separate us from sin and sinners. The act of living unavoidably puts us in contact with sinners. However, Paul advises not to "keep company" – that is, associate or develop close friendships – with immoral people because "evil company corrupts good habits" (I Corinthians 15:33). Just as spending time with ungodly people will drag me down, even so spending time with righteous people will encourage holy living.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Godly friendships encourage godly living.
Have an "encouraging" day. Love you.
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