Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace. Then Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the LORD’s wrath is on you.”    2Chronicles 19:1-2 HCSB

King Jehosaphat was a God-fearing king. He loved the Lord and sought to do right. He went to visit his in-law, King Ahaz. You can read this interesting historical narrative in 2 Chronicles 18.

When Jehoshaphat was with Ahab, he encouraged Ahab to seek the Lord and do things God’s way, but Ahab failed to do so. When Jehoshaphat returned home, Jehu confronted him. He asked him do you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? He explained to Jehoshaphat that the Lord was angry with him because of his association with Ahab. Instead of Jehoshaphat leaving when Ahab refused to do things God’s way, he continued on with Ahab. Ahab’s plan was designed to trick Jehoshaphat into being killed, but God intervened, and it was Ahab that was killed and not Jehoshaphat.

In 1 Corinthians 15:33 it says, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.” As Christians, we must be careful who we associate with. It’s easy to say, “Well Jesus ate with sinners” or “I am trying to save that person” or “I’m trying to show this lost person that Christians can have fun also.”

The problem with these thoughts for us as Christians is, number one, we are not Jesus. Number two, we don’t save a person by joining with them in sinful behavior. And number three, if you want to show a lost person that a Christian can have fun, bring them to a fellowship at church. Bring them to an outing with other Christian friends. Joining them drinking at the bar is not the way to win them over to Christ, just saying.

When Paul says don’t be deceived, he anticipates the fact that we think we are strong enough to dance closely to the fire without falling in. Be very careful my friend, for that is a slippery slope. Jehoshaphat knew the right thing to do, and he encouraged Ahab to do right. When Ahab refused to do things God’s way, Jehoshaphat should have left. He didn’t leave because Ahab had sacrificed many cattle for him and put on this big feast. It would have been rude to not help Ahab out, right?

This is where the whole guilt by association problem comes in. When we associate with those who don’t love the Lord and are unsaved, we are more likely to join in their sinful behavior than to stop them from doing it.

Jehoshaphat loved the Lord, and he heeded the words of Jehu. He immediately began to make things right by seeking the Lord with all his heart and making things right in his kingdom. He destroyed all the things of idol worship that were there and encouraged his people to seek the Lord. When several large armies came against them, he gathered his people to fast and pray. God protected them and even helped them to get many spoils from this war that they didn’t even have to fight.

There is no room for compromise in our relationship with the Lord, we must do things His way. When I surrendered to Christ, I had good friends who I had enjoyed good times with. I worried that I would not be able to spend time with them, but praise God, they simultaneously turned to God. They are now my sisters in Christ. And you know what they say, “Sisters in Christ are sisters for life.”  I thank God for keeping us together through Him.

Encourage others to seek the Lord wholeheartedly. Be a good witness. But don’t allow the unsaved to corrupt you. Don’t compromise or as our pastor says, “Go along to get along.” Turn away from sin and from those who encourage you to sin. Honor God in all you say and do, and you will never be sorry.

Have a great day!