So far in this series, I’ve talked a lot about how to put God first, the roles of the Holy Spirit, and abiding in Christ, but there’s something else that’s equally important – the company you keep.

There’s a saying, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with“. Many people have quoted it, (though I think Jim Rohn first said it), and it’s something that’s actually taught in circles like business, marketing, and self-improvement.

But did you know that it’s actually a biblical principle that’s echoed throughout the entire bible?

From the very first book, in Genesis 12:1, when God called Abram (Abraham) out from the land of his people to go to a new land to create a new people, to the last, all the way to Revelation 18:4 when John hears the call of heaven for God’s people to separate themselves from the world to save those people from being caught up in judgement, the Lord has always been particular about believers separating themselves from influence of the world.

God is always protective of His own and He teaches us to not only separate ourselves, but blesses us when we do.

Psalm 1:1 – “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.“

Proverbs 13:20 – “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.“

2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.‘”

Ephesians 5:11 – “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.“

There are at least a dozen verses from Old Testament to New that not only instruct us to separate from the world, but be weary of it, because there will be scoffers and mockers, and worse, people who deliberately try to subvert our faith by sowing dissention and subtle lies, trying to twist meanings.

For example:

Matthew 7:15 – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’’ clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” This is Jesus’ most clear warning about the hidden dangers of letting such people in.

Matthew 16:6 – “Be careful… Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” This is warning about false teaching and it spreads subtly but pervasively.

Acts 20:29-30 Paul soberingly warns the church that “Savage wolves will come in among you… Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.“

If you read 2 Peter with me yesterday, then you will remember 2 Peter 2:1-2 “There will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies … Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.“

So, why does God give us so many warnings?

The answer goes back to the quote at the very beginning – “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with“.

At it’s heart, the warning is about influence. The people you spend the most time with will influence how you think and behave. You’ll eventually adopt their attitudes and their behaviors. You’ll be desensitized to the things they tolerate and surround themselves with.

It’s why your parents probably warned you about hanging with the wrong crowd… and if you’re a parent, why you probably warn your kids about the same thing.

God is a Father, and when we became saved, we became His adopted kids, (Galatians 4:5, Romans 8:15), so He’s doing the same with us – warning us about influence.

He’s telling us to don’t be like them, don’t think like them, don’t act like them, don’t mix with them.

And he’s warning us to be on the lookout for those who are deliberately trying to lead us astray.

Today’s scripture is the book of Jude. It’s a short book but a powerful one in which Jude, (James’ brother – yes, that James, also Jesus’ half-brother), writes in Jude 1:4 “For certain men have crept in among you unawares (unnoticed) – ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.“

His point is that they look like us, and talk like us, and dance like us, and sing and pray like us. They dress like us too, and know the bible well.

But they are not of us and if we don’t surround ourselves with fellow believers, then the world will swallow us whole and snuff out our faith, even having us believing lies.

So pick your circle very carefully. I highly suggest you pick four people, because the first person you choose should be Jesus, and you just abide in Him as often as possible.

In fact, if you go to Jesus first, and give Him the final say in everything you do, your life would be 1,000% better than if you consulted Him last, or not at all.