"Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
Our company is more than our immediate family and friends. Our company includes work associates, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, the authors of the books we read, the writers of the songs we enjoy, the stars of the TV and movies we watch, the programmers of the video games we play, the people we rub shoulders with at church, fellow players on a sports team, and the coaches of our children.
Why does our company matter?
The answer has to do with the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul admonishes the church of Corinth to be vigilant about the company they keep. As C.K. Barrett notes, if your company believes "death is the end, there is little left to do but pluck the pleasures of the passing moment."[1] In other words, eat, drink, and live for today. Such thinking is ultimately selfish and self-seeking.
People who know Jesus rose from the dead view life differently: There's more to life than this life. Actions have consequences. Heaven and hell are real. "I" is not the measure of all things. Our service for Christ matters.
Bad company is company that doesn't believe the resurrection. Why? Because what one believes about the resurrection ultimately impacts his or her character. And their character ultimately impacts us.
Your pen is leaking. How is your company impacting your character?
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[1] C.K. Barrett. The First Epistle To The Corinthians. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers.1968. Page 367.