It’s obvious that if you want to stay in control, you have to set your rules, choose carefully who you do things with, and stay disciplined.
—adapted from Every Young Man’s Battle
So often there’s no challenging voice calling us to obedience and authenticity. Instead, we move nearer to our peers, often sitting together on the middle ground, a good distance from God. When challenged by His higher standards, we’re comforted that we don’t look too different from other Christians around us. Trouble is, we don’t look much different from non-Christians either.
—Every Young Man’s Battle
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.… But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
1 CORINTHIANS 5:9,11, NIV
Don’t be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness?
And what harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?
2 CORINTHIANS 6:14–15, TLB
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
2 THESSALONIANS 3:6, NASB
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
EPHESIANS 5:11, NKJV
Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge there. The wise look ahead to see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves.
PROVERBS 14:7–8, NLT
O my son, be wise and stay in God’s paths; don’t carouse with drunkards and gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty.
PROVERBS 23:19–20, TLB
The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.
PROVERBS 10:8, TLB
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
PSALM 101:4, NIV
Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.
PROVERBS 12:15, NLT
The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.
PROVERBS 14:24, NASB
A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now.
ECCLESIASTES 7:4, NLT
The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
PROVERBS 10:30, NKJV
For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
2 PETER 2:18–19, NIV
Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
PROVERBS 11:3, NLT
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
ECCLESIASTES 10:2, NIV
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end.
2 PETER 2:1, NLT
Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth.
PHILIPPIANS 3:19, NLT
Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
ECCLESIASTES 10:12, NIV
A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.
PROVERBS 10:1, NLT
A sensible son gladdens his father. A rebellious son saddens his mother.
PROVERBS 15:20, TLB
A wise son makes his father happy, but a lad who hangs around with prostitutes disgraces him.
PROVERBS 29:3, TLB
He who becomes the parent of a [self-confident] fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of [an empty-headed] fool has no joy [in him].
PROVERBS 17:21, AMP
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
PROVERBS 28:7, KJV
The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure it is to have wise children. So give your parents joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.
PROVERBS 23:24–25, NLT
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
PROVERBS 4:18, NLT
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!
PSALM 119:1, NKJV
For the wicked shall be cut off;
but those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land.
The righteous shall possess the land,
and dwell upon it for ever.
PSALM 37:9,29, RSV
Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the upright will live in the land, and those who have integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be destroyed.
PROVERBS 2:20–22, NLT
The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
ECCLESIASTES 9:17, RSV
Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God.
ECCLESIASTES 8:12, NIV
When I [Paul] wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.
1 CORINTHIANS 5:9, NLT
My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
PROVERBS 3:1–4, NASB
My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
Keep my commandments and live,
And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
PROVERBS 7:1–2, NASB
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my
mouth.
PROVERBS 4:5, NASB
Love the LORD your God,… walk in his ways, and … keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
DEUTERONOMY 30:16, NIV
But the good man walks along in the ever-brightening light of God’s favor; the dawn gives way to morning splendor, while the evil man gropes and stumbles in the dark.
Listen, son of mine, to what I say. Listen carefully. Keep these thoughts ever in mind; let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they will mean real life for you, and radiant health.
PROVERBS 4:18–22, TLB
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
PROVERBS 4:10, NKJV
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.
PSALM 91:16, NKJV