“And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and, said to king Jehoshaphat, shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from the before the LORD. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God”- 2 Chronicles 19:2-3(KJV)
The above scriptures was a message of rebuke sent by God through a seer to Jehoshaphat. He narrowly escaped death when he went into an unholy alliance with Ahab the notorious king of Israel who popularize the worship of Baal in Israel through Jezebel his wife. Here the prophet made it clear that Jehoshaphat was saved by God due to his zeal for God. He had prepared his heart to seek God and the LORD God that sees the heart and not the outward appearance delivered him from death. Ahab was described by the prophet as ungodly and hater of God. What a terrible stigma to bear. What happened to Jehoshaphat is a lesson for us in our Christian pursuit. We must be mindful of our association. Who do we relate with? The bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:14(KJV) “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness”. The bible admonishes us in 2 Corinthians 6:17(KJV) –“Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not unclean thing; and I will receive you”.
God is a jealous God who demands that our relationship with Him must be total. We are expected to relate with like minds. Our relationship and association must be edifying. A heart that is prepared to seek God must be ready to disassociate from all ungodly relationship. Your intimate and close friends must of a necessity be of the same believe and faith. Just as Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped death, many Christians have suffered untold hardship due to ungodly alliances. A heart that is prepared to seek the Lord must avoid such traps associated with bad relationships. Why will your good friend be a robber and a murderer? Why would your most intimate friend be a member of a cult? Why should your best friend be a heavy smoker and most chronic womanizer around? The bible says “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” –1 Corinthians 15:33(KJV).
You cannot put your hand on the plough and be looking back (Luke 9:62). So a heart that is prepared to seek God must as a matter of fact be ready to forgo any association with ungodly and spiritually bankrupt persons. PLEASE BE CAREFUL TO PICK YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES. Friendship can make or mar you. It is not compulsory to have a friend.
Prayer: Father give me the grace to choose whom to associate with that will enhance my Christian value.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo.