September 30, 2021 – Click here to listen
Yesterday a reader sent me the following in response to a post I wrote concerning choosing friends wisely:
“I was teaching a young married Bible study a few years ago and we came to the passage in Matthew 7:1 where Jesus tells us not to judge, “Judge not, that you be not judged”.
I said we have to make judgments every day about who we are to associate but I don’t know if I got through to them or not. I have read some commentaries that say Jesus was speaking of not judging if someone is saved or not, because that can only be known by God. Hopefully, one who is saved will bear some fruit that can be observed but maybe not. How can you follow 2 Corinthians 5:10 without judging others? Another passage that is difficult to follow without judging others is 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
To save you time I looked those passages up: 2 Cor 5:10 states in part: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. And 2 Timothy 3:1-5 states – . . . traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions . . .
As I mentioned yesterday the Bible must be taken in Context and not piecemeal. Just use the example found in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged”. Many people use this verse in an attempt to silence their critics, interpreting Jesus’ meaning as “You don’t have the right to tell me I’m wrong.” Taken in isolation, Jesus’ command “Do not judge” does indeed seem to mean something akin to that; however, there is much more to the passage than those three words.
The Bible’s command that we not “judge” others does not mean we cannot show discernment. Immediately after Jesus says, “Do not judge,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs” (Matthew 7:6). A little later in the same sermon, He says, “Watch out for false prophets . . . By their fruit you will recognize them” (verses 15–16). How are we to discern who are the “dogs” and “pigs” and “false prophets” unless we have the ability to make a judgment call on the actions of potential friends? Jesus is giving us permission to tell right from wrong in choosing our associates in these verses.
Paul warns us in 1 Cor. 15:33 about friends: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character'”. As much as the world would like to condone their own bad behavior and instead try to blame Bible following God-fearing people whom they call hypocrites for their sin of judging, that pig just won’t fly.
We are not to associate with those who entice us to do wrong, no matter how appealing their “friendship” seems to be. Those whose “feet rush to sin” should be avoided. The road they walk is no place for a Christian whose choice should be to follow the “path of the righteous.” Only that path leads to friendship with God, which is the ultimate goal of a Christian.
Just this week I talked to a buddy who lost his son to a drug overdose and is devastated. His son was a sportsman who loved to fish and hunt and it was the first time he had ever tried drugs. It had fentanyl in it and he died at a very young age. His so-called friend had urged him to try it and said it was wonderful.
One cannot choose friends wisely without using discernment. End of story.
Proverbs 13:20
He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.