The company you keep will shape who you are, whether you notice it or not. Every person you spend time with, every place you occupy, every platform that you engage with, and every principle you embrace, leaves a mark on your life.
Proverbs 27:17 — As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Acts 4:13 — Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus.
Proverbs 13:20 — He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
1 Corinthians 15:33 — Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Psalms 1:1 — Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;A blessed man is also known by the things he doesn’t do. — Dami Oguntunde
What is a Company?
‘Company’ refers to the people, places, platforms and principles you keep, visit, interact with, and consistently associate with, whose values, operations, words and actions influence your thinking, behaviour and direction.
People are the relationships and associations we keep. They influence us through conversation, example, values and lifestyle- shaping how we think, feel and act over time.
Places are the environments we consistently occupy. Every environment carries a culture that can reinforce growth or normalise compromise- shaping what we tolerate and celebrate.
Platforms are the media, systems and stages we engage with. What we watch, listen to, read and participate in shapes our thinking, values and attention- often in subtle but powerful ways.
Principles are the beliefs and truths that govern our decisions. They shape our perspective, guide our responses, determine what we accept or reject and how we respond under pressure.
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The company a man keeps will affect his disposition towards things. We do ourselves a great disservice when we fail to acknowledge the weight and gravity that our company plays in our lives. The things we interact with, as well as the things we communicate and commune with, play a powerful role in shaping our persuasions. No matter how much we try to downplay it, the people, places, platforms and principles we engage with strongly influence our perceptions, dispositions, and beliefs.
These truths are not just theory. Scripture provides vivid examples of how our associations shape our character. Where we walk, where we stand and where we sit all play a role in who we become. We see men in Scripture who were described as untrained and ordinary, yet they were also perceived as bold and effective because they walked with Christ. Their association changed them.
Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. These are not theories; they are realities. Scripture warns us not to be deceived…. And that warning exists because deception is possible.
It is a lie to believe that one can remain in ungodly company and not eventually reflect what one is communing with. The people, places, platforms and principles we interact with will shape us. The law remains consistent: WHATSOEVER a man sows, that shall he also reap. If you are sowing into good company, walking with the right people, staying in healthy places, engaging on sound platforms and interacting with truth-based principles, you will reap accordingly. However, if a person consistently walks with the wrong set of people, especially if their closest companions are those who do not take their faith seriously, it is far more likely that those companions will pull them down to their level than the believer pulling them up.
The same applies to places. Yes, God is everywhere, but not everywhere honours Him. Some places mock His name and profane His truth. To think that one can continually commune in such environments and remain strong in faith is self-deception. Now, we understand that God sends His people into the world to disciple men. However, one must be certain that their foundation is solid, that the platforms they engage with and the principles they operate by are well understood. Otherwise, the world system will absorb them.
The enemy is very strategic and patient — haaaahaaaaa, friend, he is.
Think about the things you wouldn’t have approved of five years ago.
How far now?
Do you really think that it is maturity that has made you accommodate those dysfunctions? Or do you want to ascribe it to having a “large heart?”
Maybe both of the above statements are true. However, there’s also a strong possibility that as a result of the people, places, platforms and principles that you are engaging, you now approve of some dysfunctions and say, “It is not that bad.”
Be intentional with your company: your people, places, platforms and principles. What you commune with today will shape who you become tomorrow. Today’s company determines tomorrow’s character. Guard it wisely.
Watch your Company.
Have a Blessed Week.
Grace, Growth and Glory.
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