24 Do not associate with a man given to anger;
Or go with a hot-tempered man,
25 Or you will learn his ways
And [p]find a snare for yourself.26 Do not be among those who give [q]pledges,
Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take your bed from under you?28 Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.29 Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
Whew, v. 25 is key here, but it doesn’t just apply to being hot-tempered. Whoever you associate with, “you will learn his ways…” Don’t participate in someone else’s folly (v. 26) and then expect different results than them (v. 27).
We see this in our politics, whoever you hang around, you’ll start thinking like them, whether it is true or not–on both sides of the political spectrum, not trying to pick on one party even if I prefer one of them. Solomon knew it doesn’t end with just having a bad temper or doing stupid stuff with money. In v. 28, we have the example of trying to steal land from someone.
Who would ever think that was normal or right? Yet we see things from gangs and other groups, where evil deeds have become normalized, excusable, justified even. It’s a slow process, not overnight, so we need to be careful who we hang out with and what we dwell on in our minds. Just this morning, I had seen some political things that got my hackles up. And it didn’t take long before I was frustrated with my kids, and my body temp was rising.
Then I sat down and read this… And as I’m typing, it hit me: so if we aren’t supposed to dwell on these things or give them a foothold in our lives, what is the alternative? We’ve all heard iron sharpens iron, and good friends are super important. But how much time are you spending “hanging out” with God? How much time am I spending? Are we letting his words and thoughts change us, and transform us?
He’s the friend who sticks closer than a brother, and yet we often blow him off, and then wonder why we do things we wish we hadn’t. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Spend more time with God, and you’ll better reflect His heart, desires, and your deeds will show it too (v. 29).