Who do you hang with?

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
"Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
(Psalm 1:1-6)

How important is the company you keep? Very if you base it on scripture. In my short life span of 37 years, & my ministering with youth & in the jails, I have also come to the conclusion that it is very important who you…for the lack of a better term…hang with. God tells us in the scripture above that those who do not walk with the "wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers" will be blessed. What does it mean, the word blessed? The word actually used here is the word 'asher, it means "blessed" or "happy". Happy is the man who does not do these things. You can't be happy walking this path, this is a path of descent. It's a lifestyle that will bring you down, never up.
It starts with walking in the counsel of the wicked, this is taking advice from those who walk in their own understanding, ones who do as they see fit. Proverbs 14:12 says: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." The way that seems right to man, if it is not right to God, then it is not right at all. For some reason people will take counsel from those type of people, & when they do, it will not be counsel for their good. I heard today of a man & woman who are taking marriage counseling from an ungodly counselor, who has been married 3 times himself. He maybe experienced in marriage…but it ain't in keeping one together.
From the taking advice from the ungodly or wicked, it says that the next step down will be standing "in the way of sinners", the word sin means to "miss the mark". These people do as they want, they're not quite living the way they should, doing as they please. This goes back to Proverbs 14:12. In Proverbs 16:2 it says: "All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD." These people live lives that seem right to them, they don't actually care what God thinks…so hanging out with them will bring you down….Though they overlook God, He will not overlook them or their deeds.
The last step given is sitting "in the seat of mockers". Mockers or scoffers as some translations say, refers to someone who is an out right Atheist, someone who denies the existence of God all together. Proverbs 3:34 describes what God says that He will do to those mockers… "He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble." God says that He mocks them, he's going to hold them in scorn or contempt (attitude of utter disgust or hatred: a powerful feeling of dislike toward somebody or something considered to be worthless, inferior, or undeserving of respect.) Now that's pretty strong words from God. He also calls them a fool. "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God" (Psalm 14:1). God does not take lightly those who persuade others to not believe or to sin.
Now the next verse is key to our happiness, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." MEDITATES???? That's when you cross your legs "Indian style" stretch out your arms, hold your fingers like you're doing the "okay" sign & humming like a bee's nest, ain't it? No, the word meditate is best seen… watching a cow…I know this sounds weird but hang with me. A cow as we know has more than one stomach & when she eats grass she chews it & swallows, then later when she is lying under a shade tree she will bring back up that grass & she "chews the cud". It helps in her digestion, she's chewing grass that has already been chewed, swallowed & brought back up…Nasty! But that's the idea. You take God's word read it & during the day you bring it back up & think about it. You chew back over what you've taken in. See the Bible is not meant to be a novel, it is meant to be a guide book. A book that will help us know what to do. But unless we meditate on it, we won't have it when we need it. In Psalm 119:11 it says: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Read it, memorize it, live it.
Psalm 1, goes on to tell us "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." God loves us all & wants what's best for us, 2 Peter 3: 9 tells us that "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." God wants what is best for all, but as we have seen man's nature want's what's best for self. The only way to break that nature is through a relationship with Jesus. In that relationship we will receive the Holy Spirit who will guide & convict us on our journey.
In conclusion, watch the life of those who turn from God, you can see them in Hollywood, in the local bars & parties, some even in your church. But watch, their lives, they will always come unraveled even if they seem very neatly woven together. So does it make a difference who you hang with? Yes. Who you hang out with is who you normally like being with because they like the things you like. Evaluate what your friends do & say, & you can bet that they are a mirror reflection of yourself. Are they concerned with what God's desires are for their lives or are they just concerned with themselves & living for the "pleasures" this world offers.
Be a "blessed" man, hang out with blessed people. But do not forget those who need Christ, always be willing to lend a hand to lift someone up…but just don't get pulled down yourself.

Vern