Discernment

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:17-19 NIV

In mandrain there's a saying that goes: 經珠者赤 經墨者黑

it means that whoever that befriends people with good moral practises will benefit and learn good moral behaviour, thereby become a good person. While on the other hand, one who befriends those with undesirable habits/behaviour will become ill in their ways as well.

This is a common saying amongst the chinese population and used widely when an elderly wants to advise anyone towards choosing the kind of friends they want to be with.

In the current context, the commonly used term would be Peer Pressure.

It was a term that I learnt when I was attending a course at SANA, an institute that teaches why taking drugs is not a good thing, how to recognise the subtances, how to say No to it and how to avoid being in the company of people who enjoys destroying their own lives by taking in drugs.

Likewise, in life, if we are surrounded by people who are kind, forgiving, patient, we end up being kinder, more forgiving, more patient ourselves. It is because they set the norm for the pace of life that we live in. If we are surrounded by people who enjoys gossiping, small talks, drinking, non-constructive conversations, then it becomes a norm, a lifestyle to lead a life that way.

At the end of the day, we are responsible for who we want to spend time with, how we spend our time, what we do with our time, you can chose to lead a carefree life style centered around yourself or chose to be a servant of God and be obedient to His words. Its a choice.

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