Be Aware of Those Around You and Be for God

“⁵A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. ⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. ⁷Leave the presence of a foo, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.” – Proverbs 14:5-7 (ESV)

Oh how often I have found myself in the presence of those that are not exactly the example of God. I will admit that I am intrigued by them, and frankly, amused and drawn to, what appears to be their zeal for life. When in their presence, I am fully drawn into their view of things and find myself wondering why and how I can have what they have.

I then sit down here at my writing desk in the mornings, study God’s word and realize that what I see in others, may not, and likely is not, what it seems to be. I find that they are playing an act for the glory they are seeking in this world and are only hoping to draw others into their world with them.

As noted in my ESV Commentary on the verses above, “The verses appear to prescriptive (walk the path of the faithful witness) as well as descriptive (look out for those who manifest lying, scoffing, or foolishness).” I am called to do the work of the LORD and in doing so I must walk the walk and talk the talk. I must also be sure to look out for those that are not walking the path with me, but are looking to knock me off the path that leads to God.

God has a plan for my life and that plan calls for my obedience to Him. I must be fully infused with Him and His glory each and every moment of the day. It is okay for me to be around those that are not followers of Christ, for even Jesus was with them and tells us not to avoid them. But, in my time around them, I am to be the beacon of light for Jesus and not be drown out by the darkness that will emanate from them.

It is up to me to be careful around those that are not of Christ and be sure that all of my actions and words demonstrate that of Christ for all to see. I must be for God.

When you are out in the world, how are you drawn into the company of those not of Christ? Are you aware that they have even drawn you in? What if you were to be for God and were careful around those not of God and became more of the example of Christ in their presence?