EPHESIANS 5:7

“Therefore do not become partners with them;”

You’ve probably heard the expression “Partners in Crime.” It’s meant to portray people who tend to stick together. Now, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. I have some friends who I can stick with through anything. I used to have some friends in my “before Christ” days who could have been classified in the negative way. We just looked for things to get in trouble. You may have people like that in your life. Perhaps this verse is for you today.

Paul warns the Ephesians again in today’s verse to stay away from those who practice all the negative things he has just written about. Their goal is to bring them down. Paul uses the same Greek word back in Ephesians 3:6 which is translated as “partners” here. These are the only two times this word is used in the New Testament. Interestingly enough, back in 3:6 it is used in a positive sense whereas here in today’s verse it is used negatively. You can be partakers or partners with a lot of people. You just have to guard against joining yourself to the wrong crowd.

APPLICATION

I love spy movies. Often in those movies someone will innocently get involved with a bad spy. Before they know it, they are wrapped up in their schemes and are doing things they never thought they would do. The same is true of us. I love how Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible explains this. It says it means “In their sins, and acts of disobedience; by keeping needless company with them; by abetting and encouraging sinful practices; by conniving at them, and not reproving for them; or by committing the same things.”

Who are your “buds”? Who do you hang out with the most? Are they a good influence on you and point you to Jesus or do they lead you away from the truth? Choose your friends wisely. Choose carefully whom you spend time with and associate with. Yes, we need to reach the lost. Yes, we need to get to know unbelievers and invite them to Jesus. But we cannot become wrapped up in their lives at the expense of our spiritual life.

The devil is very sneaky. He will send people into your life who seem above board. They may say all the right things, but they don’t believe them. To all of you out there who are dating an unbeliever – stop now. Don’t buy the lie that you can change them. You can’t. Only Jesus can. And if He wants them to be your spouse, He will change them into what you need to grow spiritually. Enough said!

Father, give me partners who agree with Your truth and can help build me up.