Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2 NLT)
One thing about the psalmsthey dont pull any punches. The unknown writer of Psalm 1 lays out two pathsfollowing the wicked or delighting in the law of the Lord. No other option. Two paths. Choose one.
It doesnt seem that black and white in real life, does it? The advice given by a well-meaning friend doesnt seem like advice of the wicked and hanging out with a particular group doesnt seem like standing around with sinners. I wouldnt say that you must close your life to those people who most need to know the Savioryou may be the only positive influence they have in that direction. So how can you follow the advice of these verses and still be an effective witness to the gospel message to your friends who need to hear it?
The key is in the verbs: follow, stand around, join in. While it may be important and valuable to continue your relationship with unbelieving friends, you must always be aware of a line that you should not cross. Back to those two choices. Your ultimate allegiance is to your Lord, and so, as the verse says, you delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Two other important verbs: delight, meditate.
So lets go back to your unbelieving friends. You love them. You appreciate their skills at their jobs or the gifts they have in other areas. Theyre funnyover lunch you usually end up laughing until you cry.
But take a moment to assess the conversation, the assumptions, the advice tossed around. If this is all good clean fun, then you are blessed to enjoy such friendships and be able to build the kind of trust with these people that may lead to conversations about eternal things. However, are your friends involved in actions that, while permissible in the world, you would consider wrong (and youve built that opinion based on your meditating day and night in Gods Word)? Is a friend contemplating an affair or making excuses for one? Is another friend spreading gossip that is really none of anyones business? Are you all laughing at the expense of someone else?
You see, thats where you have to not follow the advice, or stand around as wrong actions are condoned, or join in when hurtful gossip is spread. Thats where you need to draw the line.
The psalm writer clearly explains that in order to find joy, you must not follow along, condone, or join in activities you know to be wrong. Instead, you stand firmly on Gods truth, you delight in the law of the Lord, and you can see the black from the white because you have soaked in Gods Word day and night.
So what do you do? You neednt pull a holier-than-thou attitude, nor do you need to come across as judgmental and condemning. Because of your great delight and joy in knowing Gods truth, you seek his guidance for how to deal with a certain situation with your friends. Maybe its a late-night coffee klatch with the friend whos considering an affairtalking personally to her about your concerns. Maybe its just turning the conversation at the lunch table a different direction when you see it going all gossipy. Maybe its inserting your opinion kindly but stronglyafter all, youre probably not the only one doing so. These are your friends after all. They value what you have to say. Say what you have to say with kindness and conviction.
You see, youve settled the issues with God by finding your deepest joy in him and his Word. Your friends will be impressed with your consistency, your boldness, your honesty, and, above all, your joy. When you delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night, youll be like a tree planted by the riverbank, bearing fruit in each season, your leaves never withering (Psalm 1:3). Youll be a source of refreshment to your friends, your neighbors, indeed everyone you cross paths with today.
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