Let’s look now at another kind of companionship that we need in our Christian lives. Turn to Psalm 119:6363I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (Psalm 119:63), “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.” This is definitely the kind of companionship we need to have in this world through which we pass. The first two companions that we are to have (the Lord and the Apostle Paul) are no longer here in this world, though our companionship with them can be very real—but in different ways. But now I want to talk about companions that we can have among God’s people that are here in this world. What kind of companions do we have? Are they those that will help us to go on? Or are they more of a hindrance?
There are two things that qualify the kind of companionships that we are to make among the Lord’s people. Firstly, there is to be a fear of God, and then secondly, a keeping of His precepts—which are the smallest details of His Word. That’s the kind of companions we are to have! It should be with those that fear God with a reverential fear and have a fastidious desire to keep even the smallest details of His Word.
One of the marks of one who truly fears God is that they depart from evil. Proverbs 14:1616A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. (Proverbs 14:16) says, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil.” That means that you’ll know those who fear God by the fact that they keep themselves separate from evil. Paul said, “Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.” If we are true to our confession as Christians, we will depart from evil. If you know of young people that are going on with wrong things, it’s a telltale sign that they don’t have a fear of God in their lives. And Scripture is clear about what you are to do; you’re not to make them your companions. And don’t think that you have to go out into the world to find evil. Last week the verse was read to us at the Walla Walla conference, “I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly” (Prov. 5:1414I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. (Proverbs 5:14)). This means that you might find such things among the Lord’s people!
Now, we might wonder why the Lord is concerned about the kind of companions we have, but there are some very good reasons; and I would like to look at some of them.
The Benefits of Good Companions
1) Encouragement
Here we have an example of how a friend can be a positive encouragement to us. Jonathan desired to do a work for the Lord and for the deliverance of His people. He went out with his armourbearer to stop the Philistines from entering their land. But when he was about to put the plan into action, he apparently had second thoughts, and considered turning back. That is when his armourbearer stepped up and said what he did to encourage him to go forward in his exercise. In other words, he encouraged him to go on! That’s what good companions will do for you. The Lord knows how much we need encouragement in these days of discouragement. There seems to be so much to discourage the young people from going on. Occasions like this get-together can give a person a lift when they see other young people trying to press on. It encourages them to do the same.
2) Preservation
Let’s turn now to 1 Samuel 25:14-1614But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. 15But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: 16They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. (1 Samuel 25:14‑16). “One of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: they were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.”
This is part of a story of the exploits of David and his men. David is a type of Christ. The young men who lived and walked with him are a picture of faithful believers today who walk in company with the Lord Jesus Christ. They are the kind of companions we want to have. Nabal’s young men found that as long as they kept company with David’s young men they were safe from the dangers in the wilderness. They reported to Abigail that David’s young men were like “a wall” to them. A wall, in Scripture, speaks of separation and protection. The lesson here is that if we surround ourselves with good companions—those who walk with the Lord—we will be insulated from the dangers of the world. There is a certain protection for us by walking in company with faithful and godly Christians.
Having friends like the men of David will definitely help you in your spiritual life. For instance, you might be tempted to do something wrong, in a so-called “weak moment,” but you’ll find that these good companions will help you to go in the right direction. Or, if we are drifting and getting off track, godly companions can have a preserving effect on us. And if we have made false steps and need correction, godly companions will rebuke us because they genuinely love us. Scripture says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:66Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:6)). One who is truly your friend will not let you go off without a warning. This is a protection that you would not get if you were not walking with good companions.
3) Spiritual Help and Instruction
Turn now to Joshua 14:12-1312Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said. 13And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. (Joshua 14:12‑13). This is Caleb speaking: “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.” Then turn to chapter 21:12-13, “The fields of the city [Hebron], and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs.”
Now isn’t this interesting. They gave Caleb the opportunity to have whatever part of the inheritance that he wanted; and he chose Hebron. Hebron means communion. Isn’t that lovely. He valued fellowship and communion with the Lord and wanted to live in what speaks of it. But notice, the city that Caleb chose to live in was also the city of the priests! The priests were those, as you know, who lived and worked in the presence of the Lord in the sanctuary. When they were off from their duties at the tabernacle, they lived in that city. That means that he was literally surrounded by priests. Now that’s good company to be in, if I don’t say so myself! It should encourage us to want to walk in the company of priestly companions.
We are told elsewhere, “The priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 2:77For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 2:7)). Under normal conditions a person could get spiritual help and instruction from the priests. What a privilege it must have been for Caleb to have that ready help around him on a daily basis!
You know, we all need companions of this sort—ones that can be a spiritual help to us. The Bible says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:1717Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)). That means that through the interchange of thoughts and exercises among friends who want to go on for the Lord, we become sharper in our spirituality, and also more balanced in our life. If we don’t walk with friends of “like precious faith” (2 Peter 1:11Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2 Peter 1:1)), we tend to get one-sided. A recluse is usually a one-sided person. On the other hand, we will be balanced by being with other people who have godly exercises.
4) Sympathy and Support in Times of Trial
Turn to Job 6:1414To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. (Job 6:14), “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend.” This is another great benefit we have in having good companions—there will be sympathy and support in times of trial! Job was complaining that his friends were not giving him that; and by the end of the book (chapter 42:7-9) we learn that they were in the wrong. It sure is a positive help to have godly companions that can understand the trials of faith, and what you are going through. The danger in trial is to get so down that you want to give up. But how good it is to have companions that can pick you up.
The Danger of Bad Companions
SEPARATION FROM EVIL
Let’s turn to 1 Corinthians 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33). “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” And in Haggai 2:11-1311Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. (Haggai 2:11‑13). “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food—shall it become holy? And the priests answered and said, No. And Haggai said, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, is it become unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.” (J. N. Darby Translation).
Haggai was sent of the Lord to test the priests as to certain principles of holiness. He asked them two questions. First, if one of them were carrying something that was holy and he came into contact with that which was common, would it make the common thing holy? The priests answered, “no.” And they were right. Then he asks a second question: If one who was unclean touched one of the holy things of the Lord, would those holy things be made unclean by contacting what is unclean? Again, the priests were correct in saying those things would be “unclean.” The lessons we are to learn from this are vitally important to our spiritual health and progress. So listen closely.
The lesson in the first question is, that which is holy cannot cleanse that which is unclean by associating with it. What an important principle to get a hold of! The lesson in the second question is, that which is unclean will defile what is clean by association with it! This is another very important principle.
Many a young person has thought otherwise, and thus, has sought to associate with some person in an attempt to be a help to them—and it hasn’t worked. Many think that they can associate with people who are walking in paths of unrighteousness, and that their contact with them will be a positive influence to lift them out of their path. But it’s not true. Learn this lesson well—we cannot transmit our holiness to someone who is walking unrighteously by associating with them!
Furthermore, some think that even if they can’t be a positive help to such persons, they can still associate with them and not be affected personally. But again, this is not true. The second question teaches us that we are only going to compromise our holiness and become defiled by such an association. We will be dragged down into those paths of unrighteousness.
The conclusion of the two questions is this: people who are walking in a path of unrighteousness cannot be brought up out of that path by our association with them; the only thing that happens is that we are brought down to their level. It is a sobering thought. It means that we have to be careful where we walk, and with whom we walk. The truth is, that association with evil defiles. There may be some here who don’t like to hear these things because they want to walk with people who are not going on with the Lord, but it doesn’t change the fact. If any think otherwise, I would just remind them that we’re not wiser than the Word of God.
The Example of Joash
There are many illustrations of this truth in the Word of God. I will draw your attention to one of them. Turn to 2 Chronicles 24:1-21Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. (2 Chronicles 24:1‑2). “Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” I don’t have time to read the rest of the story, but you’ll find that all the while that Joash was under the guidance and guardianship of the high priest, he went on for the Lord. He did many things that were commendable. But when old Jehoiada passed away, the princes of the kingdom came around Joash and influenced him for the worse. They introduced idolatry into his life. Then, when one of the priests (Zechariah) rose up and spoke against it, he had his friends stone him to death! It brought the wrath of God down upon Joash and his kingdom; and judgment was executed against him. It shows us how “evil communications corrupt good manners.” His contact with those ungodly princes dragged him down. And it will happen to us too if we walk with careless people. Let us be warned by it.
H. P. Barker has an illustration of this very point in one of his books. He tells the story of a farmer who, after sowing seeds in his field, saw crows coming in and eating the seeds. Every farmer knows how frustrating that is. So he went and got his gun. He took a few shots, and they all flew away, except one—his pet parrot! He shot his own pet parrot by accident. So he went out to where it was, and found it was alive. It had a broken wing; that was all. When he picked her up, he said, “Aw, Polly, this is what keeping bad company gets you!” So he took the bird under his arm and brought it to the house. When he got there his daughter wanted to know what had happened. Before he could answer, the parrot lifted up its head and said, “Bad company, bad company!” The parrot answered even though it didn’t know what it was really saying. But how true it was!
Proverbs 28:1919He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. (Proverbs 28:19) says: “He that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.” This has a literal meaning, but it also has a spiritual application. It means that if you associate with bad companions, you’ll come to spiritual poverty in your soul. It teaches us that we want to be careful with whom we associate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We’ve looked at the benefits of good companions and the dangers of bad companions. I hope that you can see that the main thing connected with each one of these is the influence that we have on one another—either for bad or for good. I know that I’ve said this before, but your friends are like the buttons on an elevator—they can take you up, or they can take you down. Which direction are your friends encouraging you?
If you really want to go on for the Lord, it will be evident to all around by simply looking at the kind of companions you have. Choose good companions that will be a help to you.
In closing, I would say that if you have these three kinds of companions that we have looked at in your life—friendship with the Lord Jesus, friendship with the Apostle Paul, and friendship with all them that fear God—then you’ll have good success, and your life will be a blessing.
B. Anstey
(Adapted)
COMPANIONSHIP—With the Lord Jesus, With the Apostle Paul, & With all Them That Fear God
B. Anstey
First Printed Edition – July 2005
Printed Version – 1.1
Printed in Canada
First eBook Edition—May 2021
eBook Version – 1.2
Note: all Scriptures quoted are from either the King James Version (KJV)
or the J. N. Darby Translation, unless otherwise noted.
christiantruthpublishing.com
christiantruthpublishing.blogspot.com
CHRISTIAN TRUTH PUBLISHING
9-B Appledale Road
Hamer Bay (Mactier) ON P0C 1H0
CANADA