“Bad company ruins good morals.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13

When I was just a little child and as I grew into my teenage years, I recall mother telling us you will be identified with the people you have as friends.  I have no doubt that there were mothers on Liberty drive that told their sons to stay away from that youngest Rice kid, while I was in what we called Jr. high school.  Mother often quoted this verse from 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”  One of the best examples I can think of is the many men and women who have gone to Washington D.C. to serve our country and have through association with the evil power brokers become a total embarrassment to the ones who sent them.  I believe many started out to do good, but they were deceived, because they did not understand what God had taught my mother, “Bad company ruins good morals.”

When it comes to doing good, it is not something a person usually gets much acclaim for; examples are the mother that never gets any thanks for the clean house, the fresh homemade meals, the clean clothes, and that her children are taught to respect others and to do good.  Also the dad who works two jobs, and yet sees to the needs of his family, and somehow makes it to most of the school plays and sporting events, and makes sure that his family knows that life without Jesus is empty.  And those mom’s and dads all have the same issue, the enemy of our souls reminds them everyday that they are not appreciated, that they should just quit, and take care of number one because no one really cares, no one in their family has given any notice to what they have done.

As I reflected on 2 Thessalonians 3:13, “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” This thought filled my mind; doing “good” is not common to man, it is a learned behavior, it has to be taught.  It will be helpful in your understanding of this truth to observe a young couple with their first baby, and it may help to watch also the grandparents if it is also their first grandchild.  Do you see any body teaching that child to be grateful or to value others above themselves?  You have got to be kidding, all the hoopla is about them, that child is the center of that family, and if at some point they are not taught to consider others more valuable than themselves, to be grateful, to appreciate the labors of others, to value kindness, and goodness; they will be just one more person sucking their needs out of any and everyone they come in contact with.

So lets close this “From the back Porch” in this way, “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice