Never allow this to deceive you!

Ephesians 5:6 instructs us to not allow anyone to deceive us with vain words. The meaning of the word vain is quite revealing. It means: Undue or excessive pride, futility or ineffectualness, unsuccessful, useless, no real value, idle, worthless, to no end, without success or result, in an irreverent or blasphemous manner”.  The scriptures teach us that we are not  to take the name of the Lord our God in vainDeuteronomy 5:11 (RSV).  Vain words are illusory in nature, but they lack any real substance, and in most cases involve foolish pride. Even much of today’s commercials and marketing involve vain words. This week, pay special attention to words that people speak. You will find a lot of vain words being tossed around with no respect or regard to truth or righteousness. 

Ephesians 5:6 “Let no man deceive you with vain words…”

Tell me again, who are you walking with?

A Spanish proverb says: Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are. That is actually very close to what the scriptures say. Proverbs 13:20 (ERV) says: “Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.” We do not have the power to choose our biological family, but we have the power to chose our friends. I remember when I first became a pastor, I realized that I needed to learn a lot more than just theory. So I began to gather with established pastors and bishops. I went to where they were. I even went to closed meetings without permission, but since I was really hungry to spend time with wise, experienced pastors, I took the chance of being rejected and thrown out. To my surprise, they allowed me to be part of their gatherings. I have to tell you that it was one of the best decisions that I ever made. I learned so much in those years, just by spending time with wise men and women. Are you purposely seeking out “wise” friends? Do your friend make you wiser, or are you the smartest one in the room? If you are the smartest one in the room, you need to change that. You can’t learn anything if you don’t challenge yourself by purposely gathering with those that are already living and serving successfully in the place where you desire to be one day be. Make an assessment today of your “friends and associates,” and if you are in the company of fools, run out of there and get new friends and associates. Remember, hanging out with fools will get you in trouble, but spending time with those who are wise, will cause you to become wise yourself.

Proverbs 13:20 (ERV) says: Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.