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1 Kings 11 – Guilty Because Of Association
Guilty Because Of Association
Guilty by association is a sinful way to condemn people. And yet, we are not truly guilty by association, only by insinuation and assumption. In fact, the most innocent person to walk this earth was charged guilty by association – Jesus (Matthew 11:19).
“Don’t hang around the wrong crowd!” we’ve either heard as children or said as parents. Is that good advice? A definite maybe!
God warned people against hanging around drunks and gluttons (Prov.23:20). Jesus did and could. He was not hanging around just to be hanging around. He did not associate with them to simply have fun at a party, but rather in hopes of a different kind of association on a higher plane.
But be warned, we can become guilty because of association. God warned the Israelites not to associate with the people of the land (Ex.23:31-33). Solomon did but shouldn’t have. He married women who changed him and turned his heart away from God. Exactly the opposite of Jesus.
What’s the difference? Purpose and Power. Do I associate with the world for myself or for God? Am I changing the people around me or are they changing me? Am I strong enough to follow the example of Jesus or weak enough to become another Solomon?
I don’t mind being judged guilty by association as long as I don’t become guilty because of association.
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