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John Chow once remarked ‘I
never did believe the saying that you are what you eat. However, I do believe
that you are who you associate with’. The power of association is extremely
powerful in the way it dictates who you are and how much money you make. If you
want to change yourself or you lifestyle, then it may be time to change the
people you associate with.
As Christians the people we associate with can make or break us. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” This means that we have to carefully choose our friends or associate or they will choose us.
The Story of Abraham and Lot is a typical example of the power of association. The Bible stated that God bless Lot because of his relationship and association with Abraham. We know what happened to him when he decided to stay away from Abraham- the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra!
Jesus never told his disciples to ignore those in the world, in fact you cannot ignore them but cautioned them of association with them.
Be kind to everyone, but choose your close friends carefully to avoid
being pulled astray. Associations or Friends who do not help you get closer to
God but leads you to danger should be cut off. Such people can damage your
future and your personality.
"The righteous should choose his friends
carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray" (Proverbs 12:26).
Good Association will have a positive
influence on you. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
says that “two are better than one,” and goes on to tell how life is much
better when you have a friend. Within this same verse we are told that a
friendship like this can lead to one being able to pick up or support the other
when he or she falls and that friends can keep each other warm. It also says
that two friends can stand together against threatening events.
Bad Association will have a negative
influence on you. 1 Corinthians
15:33 (NIV) says that bad company will corrupt someone with good
character. Many people make the mistake of associating with the wrong crowd,
and it is one of the warnings parents try and give their children all through
their developing years and even into adulthood.
Jesus Christ demonstrates the ultimate Association. Jesus
the great Shepherd promises his ‘sheep’ that He is the only way to Light. Jesus said ‘You are my friends if you do what
I command.” As you can see from this verse, Jesus Christ is the perfect example
of a true friend association because He sacrificed Himself for us
