One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor

Proverbs 12:26 - One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Translations of the first phrase vary, for example, “The righteous choose their friends carefully (NIV),” “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor (AV).” All translations tell the Proverbs “son” that he will live among other people who will lead him for good or ill. Aristotle famously declared man a political animal. God said, “It is not good for the man (person) to be alone (Genesis 2:18).” We resemble lions, which live in packs, rather than tigers, which hunt alone.

Because of our social nature, we go far to “fit in” with other people, dressing like those we want to hang with, liking their music, and approving what they approve. God gives us our families, but we choose our friends. Spend time with sneering losers, and you will become one. Associate with the snooty smart set, and you will share their attitude. Put in time with respectful, hard-working types, and their good habits will become yours. So the Book of Proverbs tells the “son” repeatedly, choose friends well.

There are two practical questions in choosing friends: will they have me as a friend, and do I want to become like them? The danger in asking first, “Will they have me?” is that “bad apples” accept new friends as readily as “good apples” do. Therefore, the wise person in a new school, or a new workplace, or a new neighborhood, knowing that he will tend to become like his associates, should begin with the question, “Do I want to be like them?” before wondering if he can gain entrance to a group.

The one who prays, as Jesus taught us, “Lead me not into temptation,” shows the seriousness of his prayer if he does not put himself in temptation’s way by standing, sitting, walking, or riding in the car with scorners who care nothing for God and his law. In certain situations, a wise person may have to choose some loneliness over his need for human companionship. Family story: one of my sons at age eleven went with a group of boys to a friend’s house. The parents were not home, so the son of the house went to his parents’ pornography stash and put in a tape. After a few minutes, when he realized what he was watching, my son walked out and came home, a practical and potentially costly application of this proverb, since a refusal to let friends lead one astray often ends friendships.

A further application of this proverb: Groups of Christian friends, and the Christian Church in general, must always be open to new people, even unsavory ones. Jesus’ enemies criticized him for eating with taxpayers and sinners, but he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Mark 2:27). As Christ’s Body in the world, the Church has the same calling to be a righteous guide to all who will join it.

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Dr. Bill Edgar, former chair of the Geneva College Board of Trustees, former Geneva College President and longtime pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)

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Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Apr 3, 2020

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