Blessed Is the Man

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1)

This verse isn't complicated to understand. It's just hard to do. Blessed is the person who:

1.     doesn't take life advice from people who don't know God.

2.     doesn't fall into step with people living for themselves.

3.     doesn't sit down and get comfortable around people who mock what they don't understand.

Notice the progression. It starts with walking, just casually following someone's counsel. Then standing, getting more settled into that crowd's way of doing things. Then sitting, fully at home among people who scoff at faith. Nobody wakes up one day mocking God. It's a slow slide, one comfortable step at a time.

Who you spend time with will determine what your life is like. It doesn’t matter if you have known them your whole life; you need to make decisions based on the life you want to have.

You must be honest about what voices you allow around you, because whether you agree or not, the voices you allow yourself to hear will determine your direction. Wise counsel is healthy. Complainers, gossipers, and argumentative people will lead you down a path of destruction.

Practical Application

Take time today to pray about the people you allow to speak into your life. Are they wise counsel? Are they people who tell you what you want to hear? Does your conversation regularly involve gossip, complaining, or attacks on others? If so, you need to make a serious decision about the voices you allow in your life.

Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 12:26