Who Is Your Walking Partner ?

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Proverbs 13:20

This devotional was one that I did for my granddaughters at the last tea party (see tomorrow's post). We have talked much about wisdom--seeing life from God's point of view. So I began to look up passages that described the foolish person, and they are abundant.

Here are a few of the characteristics of the fool:

1. The fool says or lives as if there is no God. (Psalm 14:1)
2. When he should go to the right, he goes to the left instead. (Eccl.10:2)
3. He lacks sense and shows stupidity. (Eccl. 10:3)
4. She despises wisdom and instruction. (Prov.1:7)
5. She spreads slander. (Prov.10:18)
6. He finds pleasure in evil conduct. (Prov.10:23)
7. She is easily annoyed. (Prov.12:16)
8. He is hotheaded and reckless. (Prov.14:16)
9. She spurns her father's discipline. (Prov.15:5)
10. He feeds on foolish things. (Proverbs 15:14)
11. He is arrogant. (Prov.17:7)
12. She spends her money unwisely. (Prov.17:16)
13. He has "wandering" eyes. (Prov.17:24)
14. He scorns understanding. (Prov.18:2)
15. Her speech is unbecoming. (Prov.19:1)
16. She is quick to quarrel. (Prov.20:3)
17. She has no wisdom, and no honor. (Prov.24:7, 26:1)
18. He keeps doing the same foolish things over and over. (Prov.26:11)
19. He trusts in himself rather than God. (Prov.28:26)
20. She is an angry person and a scoffer. (Prov.29:9,11)

Little children (and big ones, too), our walking partners should be those who help us to grow in wisdom. Too much time spent with the foolish will certainly rub off on us.

I leave you today with this thought:

There are times when a fool's folly must be addressed:

"Answer a fool according to his folly
lest he be wise in his own eyes."
Prov.26:5

It surely takes great wisdom on the part of him who answers. But the Scripture seems clear about who our walking partner should not be:

"Do not speak to a fool, because
he will scorn the wisdom of your words."
(Prov.23:9)

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself."
(Proverbs 26:4)

Be very careful as you choose your "walking partners!"

As we share the Word of God with all, and as we walk with the wise,
Gloria