Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

Do you ever struggle for victory over certain areas in your life? I know that I do. I know at least that I am not the first nor will I be the last person to concur with the apostle Paul when he wrote in Romans 7:15-20 Living Bible (TLB)

15 I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to—what I hate. 16 I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking. 17 But I can’t help myself because I’m no longer doing it. It is sin inside me that is stronger than I am that makes me do these evil things. 18 I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can’t make myself do right. I want to but I can’t. 19 When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20 Now if I am doing what I don’t want to, it is plain where the trouble is: sin still has me in its evil grasp.

How many times have I read that passage? Too many to remember. I heard something in a workshop this weekend that reminded me of the work needed to overcome. The example given was a brother who had an addiction television. Now that may be nothing to some people but to this brother it was his drug, his life sapping, physical and emotional health destroyer. So after a struggle he managed to gain enough strength to put it away. However, he replaced to with worldly music until he was shown that that also was a drug pulling him away from Christ.

You see, there is no point in throwing away what you perceive as the head of your troubles if you continue to keep hold of the body. The problem was not just with television but with entertainment through media. If the television has to go, then the record collection needs to be purged. 1 Corinthians 15:33 speaks about ‘evil company.’ A quick internet search showed me that the word company means ‘the fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment.’

Sin enjoys company, so let us be more intentional about trying to eradicate all of the sin and not just the bits that stand out.

‘To rescue a sinner like me’ is a song chose by Bryn. Click on the picture to listen.