His Companions

View daily reading plan: Genesis 37.1-4

Joseph’s main associates were the four sons of his father’s concubines, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. They proved to be disagreeable companions to the extent that Joseph felt obliged to report them to his father (Gen 37.2). If we ever feel like passing on information about another that may be to their detriment let us test it by what an English poetess called “three gates of gold”, the third gate being the narrowest of all. Is it true? Is it needful? Is it kind?
 
In this situation, Joseph’s evil companions were unavoidable; they were his brothers and he had no choice but to work with them. It is impossible to avoid the company of people whose interests and morals are far different from your own. To keep apart from people like that you would need to be out of the world altogether! (1 Cor 5.10). However, when we can choose our companions it is vital to keep the right company, for inevitably our company influences our behaviour. Be like the Psalmist; “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts” (Ps 119.63).
 

Thursday, 25 January, 2024