Proverbs 13:20 offers a timeless truth: ‘He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.’ This scripture underscores the profound influence our associations have on our spiritual and personal growth. By choosing to walk with the wise, we open ourselves to a wealth of knowledge and understanding, enriching our lives and aligning ourselves with God’s purpose. The wise provide guidance, encouragement, and correction, helping us navigate life’s challenges with grace and discernment. In contrast, aligning with folly leads to ruin, as negative influences can erode our values and lead us astray. Therefore, let us seek the company of those who fear the Lord, that we may grow in wisdom and honor.

As we sit here together around the campfire, I want to speak to you from my heart, sharing with you the wisdom of the Lord. As disciples, we are called to walk in a way that honors the Lord, and the path we walk is one of wisdom, shaped by who we choose to walk with.

You see, Proverbs 13:20 tells us, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” This is not just about mere knowledge, but about the deep, transformative wisdom that comes from walking with those who know the ways of the Lord—those who fear Him, who reverently follow His commandments. When we walk with them, we are walking in their counsel, in their example, and in the fullness of their wisdom. And in doing so, we become wiser, not by our own effort, but by the wisdom that rubs off on us, that is shared with us, that we take into our lives.

But there is a warning here. The verse also tells us that if we walk with fools, we are walking into destruction. “A companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Think about that. The path of foolishness is like walking in a fog, where every step takes you farther from the light. The fool does not know the way. The fool is driven by impulses, by the world’s way, by self-pleasure, and in the end, destruction follows. So, who are you walking with? Who are you allowing to influence your steps, your thoughts, your actions? Proverbs 13:20 makes it clear that our companions shape us, for better or for worse.

Consider this: “Evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). That is the impact of foolish company—it doesn’t simply leave you where you are, it changes you. It corrodes the good that you have, and the way it does so is subtle. You start picking up bad habits, bad attitudes, and before you know it, you’re thinking like the fool, speaking like the fool, and walking as the fool. But to walk with wise men is to grow into the wisdom of the Lord, because “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Those who fear God will lead you in the right way. Their words will guide you. Their lives will encourage you to follow Christ more closely.

Think about Jesus Himself. He spent time with those who feared God, those who were hungry for His truth. He had His inner circle of disciples, and through their walk with Him, they became wise. He taught them, He led them, and He spent time in deep relationship with them. It wasn’t just about gathering knowledge, but about living life together—through the ups and the downs, sharing wisdom, sharing the truth, and encouraging one another in love.

Now, hear this: “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction” (Proverbs 13:18). Let me tell you this, disciples: Wisdom is not automatic. It requires that we humble ourselves and receive instruction. If you are not open to reproof, if you turn your ear away from correction, if you refuse the wisdom God places before you, you will end up in a place of ruin, even in this life. The fruit of pride is poverty, shame, and destruction. But if you are humble, if you receive instruction and take correction, you will be honored. Your life will be shaped by God’s wisdom, and you will bear fruit.

What does it mean to walk with wise men? It means to seek them out. To choose your companions wisely. It means you’re intentional about your relationships. The people you spend time with should build you up, draw you closer to Christ, challenge you to live out the commandments of the Lord. Let’s not be deceived by the fleeting allure of foolishness or the comfort of compromise. These things may seem sweet in the moment, but they lead to bitterness in the end. “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil” (Proverbs 13:19). To the fool, it’s an abomination to turn away from sin, to depart from evil. But to those who are wise, there is sweetness in the soul when we walk in obedience to the Lord.

As we sit here tonight, I challenge you to reflect on your relationships. Who are you walking with? Who is influencing you? Is it wise men—those who fear the Lord, those who will speak truth in love, those who will help you grow in wisdom? Or is it fools, who lead you into the ways of the world, who drag you into sin and away from the righteousness of God?

I want you to think deeply on this. The path of wisdom is not always the easiest, but it is the path that leads to life. And as we walk together in wisdom, we will see the fruit of righteousness. “Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid” (Proverbs 13:21). When you walk in righteousness, when you seek wisdom, the Lord will repay you with good, even if the world does not recognize it. You may not always see the immediate fruit, but the good of the Lord will be your portion.

And remember this: “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22). Your life of wisdom and righteousness will not only affect you—it will leave a legacy. You will pass on the wisdom you have gained to the next generation, to your children and even your children’s children. This inheritance is not just material, it is spiritual. The wisdom of God, the knowledge of His ways, the fear of the Lord, will be passed down, and in it, there will be blessings for generations to come.

So, as we sit here together, let’s commit to walking with wise men, to seeking out wisdom, and to becoming the wise men and women that God calls us to be. Let us choose our companions wisely and walk in the ways of the Lord, for in that, we will find life.

MSD