Who Are You Sitting Next To?

I enjoy listening to the radio. I once heard an interview where the presenter was talking to a man who had recently been released from serving a prison sentence. I don't remember all that was said, but I do recall a couple of sentences that made me ponder these important verses of Psalm 1.

He talked of his troubled childhood, describing problems with poverty, and commented on his dysfunctional family situation. He explained that he had spent much of his time as a youngster sitting on a wall, in his street, talking to the older lads. These young men had a powerful influence on how his future developed.

Their extreme ungodly lifestyle was controlled by drug dealing, violence and gang culture. Over time this impressionable young man listened to the lads, and, sure enough, in the fullness of time, he joined the gang and entered into a life of destruction, resulting in periods of time being spent in prison.

The part of the conversation which really spoke to me was when he said “when I sat on the wall in my street I was listening to drug dealers. If I had been sitting next to a surgeon I would have become a surgeon, and if I had been sitting next to policeman I would have become a policeman”. What a thought provoking statement!

This first psalm is a prayer, giving clear advice on the importance of listening to the right voices for our protection, and talks about the dangers and consequences when we don’t. It instructs us not to walk, stand or sit in bad company, but to eagerly desire the daily meditation of God’s Word. Not just reading the Word, but really studying and meditating on each verse. God promises that your life will be blessed as He is revealed through the passages of Scripture.

Our question today is - whose voice do we trust - who are we sitting next to and getting advice from? Man or God?

May we not be like the vulnerable man in the radio interview, who listened to negative worldly advice. Instead, let us make it a habit to regularly sit at the feet of Jesus - get His advice, feast and ponder on His word. As we do, let’s ask Him how we should change, in order to live as God would want us to.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You chose us. Please keep us listening to the voices that bring us closer to You. Help us to hear Your advice, know Your wisdom, and delight in Your Word, as we daily meditate on your life-giving Scriptures. Please, Lord, guide us in sharing the truth of Your Word with those we’re called to walk with, or sit next to. Amen.