Have you ever noticed the influence that different groups of people have on you over time?  The more time you spend with certain people you begin to pick up their habits and characteristics.  Jim Rohn the financial and personal development guru says that you are the average of your five closest friends.  This is one of the reasons that it is important to surround yourself with others who have similar goals and direction in life as you.  This is not a new idea the Bible talks about it as well.  Let’s look at Psalm 1 together today.

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,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do 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 leads to destruction.

If you are spending time with people heading in a different direction from you eventually your own path will change.  Psalm 1 reminds us not to stand or walk with or sit with those who are heading in the wrong direction in life.  That doesn’t mean avoiding them in fact we are called to minister to others and share the love of Christ with them.  It simply means who you are linked to.  Who are those whose lives are intertwined with yours?  Instead it reminds us to meditate on the law of the Lord and then we will find that our lives are more productive and fruitful.  Surrounding ourselves with others who are seeking God is a good way to keep our paths straight.  May we all have strong partners who join us on this incredible journey of faith and life.