Green Rocks

Read: Proverbs 4:23

Introduction: There is a story of a little girl who was walking across the rocks on a beach. Her parents wisely told her to “avoid the green rocks” because these could easily cause her to slip and fall. The little girl did very well but, seeing her party moving further and further ahead of her, she began to move quicker and slipped on the seaweed rocks. Falling, she split her head and although she was quickly sown up, to this day she still has the scar from the experience. While the medical expertise could almost repair her, it would still have been better if she had “avoided the green rocks”.

Avoiding things that could harm us is a biblical command too. Solomon writes that we should “guard our hearts” (Proverbs 4:23). Very often the most dangerous of hazards in this life are wrong and unwise associations with people (Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 27:17). The Apostle Paul called these people “bad company” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Of course, we do not choose those who we associate with through family or work, but excellent friendship choices are key to a successful Christianity. Let’s look at some examples of these “green rocks”.

1. Worldly People.
Jesus was the friend of “sinners” (Luke 7:34) and it is not God’s will that believers cut themselves off from the people of the world. How are we to reach and minister to people if we have nothing to do with them? We are the light and the salt of this world (Matthew 5:13-14). However, even though Jesus spent time with the “tax-collectors and sinners,” He did not open His heart to them, but rather to His close disciples and especially Peter, James and John. See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. This verse is not just about courting couples! The work of regeneration means that Christians and non-Christians are totally different.

2. Fake Christians
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Beyond the “Sunday surface” of some can be a very different story! Paul is extremely firm on this matter in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 and he compares the influence of an immoral Christian to yeast working through a whole batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). We are mimics and we should not mix with the mask wearers or be mentored by the cold. Of course, we should always be ready to instruct and encourage those who are struggling with sin (Galatians 6:1). But even this verse warns us about the negative influence of others.

3. Negative People
If faith is one of the greatest qualities that we can possess (Hebrews 11:6) then we should associate ourselves with faith people as much as possible. Every community (whether church or work place) has its positive and negative group – cynical Thomas and encouraging Barnabas were in the same church! Cynical, critical people are perhaps the worst kind of yeast because their influence is often accepted and rarely challenged. Further examples of negative people in the Bible include David’s unbelieving brothers (1 Samuel 17:28); the Ten Spies (Numbers 13:31-33); and David’s wife Michal (2 Samuel 6:16). Each of them achieved nothing and were spiritually and materially barren.

Application 
 

(a) You cannot choose your family but you should choose your friends, so surround yourself with people who will build you up in the Lord; especially those who will challenge you. You will become like those you mix with, so hang around with who you want to be.

(b)  Keep away from fire extinguishers and green rocks as an active decision in life!

(c) If you are bad company yourself, ask the Lord to help you. Choose to be a Barnabas today! 

(d) If you have fallen on a green rock, remember that Jesus is a healer