Have you ever allowed yourself to go along with the crowd when you knew in your heart it wasn’t right?
Most of us have. The influence of others, particularly in groups, is powerful. This group phenomenon is prevalent in the military culture, due to the youthfulness of many warriors. The unfortunate fact is that the group often heads in the wrong direction. Many of the blotter reports (use of drugs, fights, DUIs, etc.) can be attributed to a warrior failing to choose the right companions.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed,” (Proverbs 13:20, NKJV).
Be a warrior who upholds honor at all times
It’s natural to want to please others. It’s not easy to stand up and say, “I’m not following you. What you’re doing is not right.” How do you deal with this? A good place to start is to use wisdom about the friends you choose. Another step involves making up your mind that you are not going to participate in any activity you know to be wrong or even questionable. If you’re not sure, consult God’s Word or seek counsel from a mature Christian. By having made this decision in advance, you simply follow a decision you’ve already made. Easy? No! But the more you practice your decision, the easier it will become.
Be a warrior who upholds honor at all times—on your base or installation, during deployment or even over leave. Be an individual who has confidence, courage and self-control at all times. Do the right thing. By doing this, you will honor the Lord, honor your profession and save yourself a lot of heartache.
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
