Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
DAILY READING • John 12:1-26; 2 Chronicles 14-15; Psalm 77
The greatest scandal in the government of South Korea took place because of wrong association. In 2016, South Korea saw the start of a massive corruption scandal involving its political and business elite that brought down its first female president, Park Geun-hye. It centered on Park’s relationship with an old friend, Choi Soon-sil who was accused of using her closeness to the president to carry out some corrupt practices. Choi was found to have used her presidential connections to pressure conglomerates such as Samsung, for millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit foundations she controlled.
After the scandal blew open, in February 2018, Choi was sentenced to 20 years in jail for corruption, influence-peddling and abuse of power, while President Park was officially ousted, following parliament’s decision to impeach her. Park was accused of giving Choi unauthorised access to state documents. She was the country’s first democratically-elected president to be forced from office. After losing her presidential immunity, she was charged with bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets. Indeed Park lost her presidency through keeping a wrong association.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Friends can make or mar you. Therefore make sure you’re flocking to the right friends. It’s been said, “The anointing attracts all sorts, and so does favor.” When the favor of God is upon your life, all sorts of people will desire to come around you. However, it takes wisdom to differentiate the good from the bad. It takes spiritual discernment to know those who are there to help or to harm.”
Poison ivy looks like many harmless plants, and it keeps company with some beautiful ones. Some people are like this toxic plant. They look harmless, and they blend in with people who, like roses, are fragrant and beautiful. But poison ivy causes skin rash. You can get this poison just by rubbing it. Be careful therefore who you run with. People that do not share the same faith, or respect your vision, can be poison to your destiny. Anyone who is not adding to your life is subtracting from it. And never forget, your destiny is too precious to be subjected to wrong influence. Just like the poison ivy, some people look harmless; they are fun to be with, but the question is; how are they adding to you spiritually? ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ Anyone who is not sharpening you is hampering you. Proverbs 14:7 advises ‘Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.’
Others’ qualities rub off on you. You can’t hang out with chickens and expect to soar like eagles. To fulfill destiny, you have to become selective in your friendships. Friendship is not by force. Life is too short to waste time hanging with the wrong people. Even if it means being lonely for a season, it is better to walk alone than to run with fools. Surround yourself with eagles, those ordained of God to help you become all you are created to be.
PRAYER:
Lord, please help me to make the right choice of friends. Please uproot from around me the wrong associations and help me to be continually surrounded by destiny helpers in Jesus’ name.
QUOTE:
You will never need more than God to experience the impossible in life. – WORDBITE 222.