influence

We made him give us the car keys first—after all, he was just about to climb to the top of the Chain of Rocks bridge in St. Louis and do a little dance for his friends. Naturally, he was drunk.

Down below, we laughed and applauded his stupidity. He said he would do it, but we didn’t believe it. But there he was, doing a jig for our amusement in the middle of the night with the mighty Mississippi River patiently waiting for him to fall.

And we loved every minute of it. We always did.

Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis, Missouri

My high school friend was the ultimate risk-taker and his friends, including me, would both encourage and follow him into all kinds of foolishness. And, yeah, into all kinds of sinfulness.

My parents warned me repeatedly not to hang around with him, but I ignored them. As a result I got into all kinds of trouble with all kinds of people.

Don’t get me wrong, I accept responsibility for my actions and it’s not like I didn’t instigate things that I shouldn’t have. I was pretty rotten myself. But I know in my heart that had I heeded my parents’ advice, I would have avoided all kinds of grief.

My friend was a bad influence on me. There, I said it. (Please don’t tell my folks.)

And yet, because I still hung around him I got what I deserved: Harm.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”1

It’s safe to say I suffered harm—I have the scars to prove it. And, truth be told, I became a fool.

Unfortunately, it also messed with my integrity and trustworthiness. In the eyes of those closest to me, I didn’t have either, and they were right.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’"2

What’s the moral? Just this: Our friends influence us for either good or bad.

So, do you have a friend or acquaintance who’s dragging you down? Somebody who encourages you to do either foolish or downright sinful things?

If so, please don’t be like me: I stuck around and paid a big price. I suffered irreparable harm and my character was corrupted. The same will happen to you if you keep doing what you’re doing.

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”3

1  Prov 13:20

2  1 Cor 15:33

3  Proverbs 27:12