The Company You Keep — Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:33

By Pastor Ethan Mpozembizi

Hello family, hello friends. Today I want to share a reflection on something that touches each of our lives — influence. The company we keep, the voices we listen to, the people we surround ourselves with — all of these shape who we are becoming.

We often like to think we’re immune. We tell ourselves that we can walk through polluted air and somehow still breathe fresh air. We believe we can swim in a muddy river and come out clean. But Scripture reminds us not to be deceived:

“Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

Influence: The Quiet Shaper

Every day, we are influenced by conversations, by what we scroll through, by what we watch, by who we allow close to us. Influence is constant. It’s subtle. It’s contagious.

The word influenza — the root of our word influence — actually comes from the Italian word influenza, used centuries ago to describe the spread of illness. When English travellers returned from Italy in the 1700s with fever and cough, they said they had caught “the influenza.”

Just like a virus spreads through contact, influence spreads through proximity. If I spend enough time around someone, I begin to catch what they carry — their habits, their attitudes, their ways of thinking. Some of that influence can be good. But the Bible warns us that bad company corrupts good character.

The Slow Drift

Corruption rarely happens overnight. It begins small — a careless joke, a little compromise, a friendship that ever so slightly leads us off the narrow path. Over time, what once felt wrong begins to feel normal. What used to convict us now feels comfortable.

Many people start strong in their walk with God, but lose focus because of the company they keep. Sometimes, the people at our table — our friends, colleagues, or relationships — influence us more than we realise.

Re-examine Your Circle

The challenge today is simple but vital: look again at your circle. Who sits at your table? Whose voice has your ear? Are they helping you grow closer to God, or pulling you further away?

The Apostle Paul says, “Don’t be deceived.” It’s easy to think we are the exception — that we can handle it. But none of us is immune to influence.

So, make the decision to surround yourself with people who lift you up, who challenge you in faith, who reflect the character of Christ. Pray for God to place in your life those who strengthen your walk and encourage your heart.

A Closing Thought

We all have influence. The question is not if we influence others, but how. Let your presence draw others to Christ, not away from Him. Be the one who spreads grace, not gossip — encouragement, not criticism — love, not bitterness.

Reflection Verse:

“Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits.” — 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

Prayer:
Lord, help me to choose wisely the company I keep. Surround me with people who draw me closer to You, and make me a source of godly influence to others. Amen.