Influence of Associations
By J.B. Stoney
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7: 1
The end of God's discipline is "that we might be partakers of his holiness"; to make us as separate from everything of this world as He is. As born of God, we are sanctified by the truth. The Lord says,
"for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" - which sanctification, as has been said, is immeasurable.
We are called to a new and singular position, not known or understood by men.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons [children] of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not".
When you are established in grace you are called to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God".
Now as born of God your tastes are divine, and, as the body is the Lord's, it is subject to Him for direction in everything, as a horse would be subject to its owner.
We are bought with a price, therefore there is a lack of integrity if we swerve in any degree from this; our simple duty is to glorify God in our body, which is His.
If it be His will for us to have employment or relationships or any such claims here, we have to glorify Him in them.
Now nothing diverts us from the perfection of our calling so much as the influence of unspiritual company.
It is not only that a worldly or foolish idea is suggested to yourself, but you see it confirmed by another.
Thus from childhood to old age we are affected by the company we keep; as the old saying goes,
Tell me what company you keep, and I will tell you what you are.
It is only as we keep fresh and vigorous in the position in which we are set by grace, that we are able to detect the harm that comes to us from our own company.
One might say, But I have to do business with men. True, but in business you are not seeking company, and if you keep separate socially, though you may be regarded as silent and austere, you are genuine, and you will be respected in the consciences of those with whom you have to do.
There is most danger for us with our relatives, because we are less on our guard with them; but if we are truly on our guard with them, they will have confidence in us, and will turn to us when in any serious difficulty.
The first thing is to get distinctly before us the danger of being soiled, and thus losing the devotedness which is in itself so enjoyable, and so honoured of God.
Nothing can be more enjoyable than absolute devotedness to One whose goodness, love and worth command your whole heart.
As the Nazarite lost his separation by the touch of a dead bone, so in the sense of such a loss can we appreciate the better the Lord's present service in washing our feet, to keep us fit for His own holy presence.
We see all through Scripture how the man of God is separate from man's thoughts and ways. Abel is not influenced by Cain; he takes a new and distinct path, because he has faith in God.
Faith makes God your Object; man makes himself his object.
The more man can understand his fellows, the more dangerous is the influence. When man at Babel betrayed his desire to be independent of God, confusion of tongues was sent as a check to man's confederacy.
Now when God called out Abram, His word to him was,
"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee".
No doubt he was detained in Charran by his father's influence, for we read in Acts 7,
"When his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell".
Lot, his brother's son, went with him, but subsequently on his return from Egypt, he determined to be separate from Lot; and "after that Lot was separated from him", the Lord said to him:
"Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever", Genesis 13: 14-15.
Our subject is to see how we are influenced by those with whom we associate.
Isaac was influenced by Esau "because he did eat of his venison" - even very small attentions can influence one - and he sought to confer on Esau the blessing which was for Jacob.
