How can I know if I am following rhe wrong people or things?

Question

Accepted Answer

Exodus 34:12“Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.”

While this verse was specifically directed to the Israelites who were establishing their own country, it still highlights an important principle for us today. Compromise for the sake of pleasing people—particularly people who do not value God’s ways—can lead us to a lifestyle far from God.

Joshua 24:15“Choose today whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Following should not be just blind obedience. It should involve a choice, a definite decision to go in a certain direction. We need to consider carefully which path we are choosing.

Psalm 1:1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

Proverbs 1:10-11, 15My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!” . . . My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.

If we find ourselves spending a lot of time with people who encourage us to do what we know is wrong, we are in danger of following the wrong path.

Ecclesiastes 2:1I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless.

Matthew 19:23–24Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

A life free from following God seems to promise a “good life” of following pleasure. Nothing is wrong with enjoying the good things in life; but when they become our defining goal, then they become our god—what we are following. Eventually, the pursuit of pleasure leaves us feeling shallow and restless.