Devotion for August 12, 2008 

Bad Company Really Can Corrupt Good Morals

“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25 NKJV).

That is, do not make an angry man your bosom buddy. Do not take him into confidence, or become intimate with him. Believers owe it to all men to be courteous. However, this man should be avoided, and certainly do not take a journey with him to become his partner.

There is a danger of learning his ways. On August 8th the devotion was about having good speech, kind words, and not being negative all the time. Evil speaking promotes evil speaking. An angry countenance promotes an angry countenance. As another proverb says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV). This can be for good or evil.

To ignore this warning is to ensnare your own soul with sin. What is a snare, but a hidden trap! One might think he can walk with an angry man and not learn his ways, but this is foolishness. To walk with him is like walking on thin ice. It could take several steps before you break through, but break through you will if you walk far enough.