Thursday, September 30, 2010

Associations Matter Psalm 26:5


5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.


The people we associate with are important. David prays that God would examine him and test him. He wants God to reveal to him any weaknesses that he may have so that he can correct them. He knows that God's goodness has brought him to the place that he is in. He knows that it is God who has blessed him. David says, "Lord, I have walked in Your truth." David has sought to make God's will his will. He has sought to make God's ways his ways. He has learned the value of doing things God's way.

David shares a bit of wisdom in the next few verses. He says, 4" I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked." What is David trying to say? He has learned the value of associations. David has learned that the people he associates with, have a lot to do with the life that he lives. The desire of David's heart is to walk upright before the Lord. So, he realizes that walking with people whose desire is less than that is not a benefit to his personal walk.

Notice David's choice of words here. He says that he will not sit with these individuals or go in with them where they live. He hates the assembly of evildoers. Our associations are important. Our lives will reflect the characteristics and habits of those that we hang out with. Someone has very aptly commented that it is impossible to fly with eagles hanging out with turkeys.

Perhaps a part of David's prayer had to do with God evaluating his associations. Examine me Oh God and test me; try my mind and my heart. Look at my associations and let me know if there are people that I am associating with that I should not be. We need to be constantly evaluating our associations to see that they are of God. If we look, we will see! If we look at our associations and we are not sure if they are what they should be, all we have to do is ask a few people that we respect; they will tell us the truth.

We must learn to guard and then value the associations we make. Associations do matter.

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