“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
Like it or not, peer pressure is a reality for everyone, at any age. The people we associate with ultimately influence who we become. It’s easy to think that as we mature, we go beyond the foolish influence of others, like when we were in school.
A closer look at humanity reveals something quite different: no matter age, social status, location … people are drawn to resemble each other, to follow each other, and to think as others think.
The writer of Proverbs knew this well. He begged his children to spend time with the wise, those of high moral character and lifestyle, because he wanted the best for them.
His use of the term “walk” in this verse is not by accident. Walking is a chosen word; in this context he has the idea of A lifestyle. It is a constant, daily, step-by-step progression throughout life.
In another sense, the Hebrew term “walk” is used to make a journey. So when you walk, it is the method you apply to reach your destination. That destiny finds its purpose at the end of life.
As in most Proverbs, Solomon uses a two-part comparison, in which he takes a principle, illustrates it with a concrete picture, and then gives the opposite. This principle of two teaching methods emphasizes simplicity: the writer does not continue for pages saying the same thing one more time or expressing it in different ways. Its brilliance is evident in its simplicity, its clarity. Here, by stating that “the companion of fools will suffer harm,” he assures the reader of what happens if he does not walk with the wise. Spending our lives with foolish people will eventually bring harmful results in our lives. And the application for us is clear: it is vital to choose colleagues who we want to resemble.
I once met a younger businessman who avoided people of his generation. He only hung out with older, successful businessmen. He would play golf with them, have drinks with them, take them out to lunch. Why? I wanted to be like them. He wanted to develop their gestures, habits, and schedules, because these men had made many of the mistakes that young men would inevitably make, but they had demonstrated their business prowess with their ultimate success. He walked with the wise, rather than with the fools.
In a much more important sense, we must do the same with our spiritual comrades. If we want to live wisely, it won’t happen by hanging out with idiots. It happens by spending time – walking – with those who have passed before, experienced the losses and victories of life, and came forward with genuine wisdom.
We have a journey ahead of us. Let’s start now …