The Danger of Bad Association

Many young adults turn to bulletin boards, classified ads in newspapers, and the Internet to find potential roommates.  But for young Christians such sources have serious pitfalls.  They will likely lead to your meeting individuals who do not share your faith, morals, or standards. Is it narrow-minded or antisocial to want room only with someone of the same faith?  No, it is the course of wisdom.  The Bible itself warns:  "Bad associations spoil useful habits." -1 Corinthians 15:33. 

Consider a young woman named Lee.  She was not yet a baptized Christians when she began living in a university dormitory.   "It was a dangerous environment," she recalls.  "Some of the girls would come home and find their roommate having sex."  Living there soon had a negative impact on Lee's spirituality.  "I missed most of my Christian meetings," she admits.  

Not surprisingly, her conduct steadily deteriorated.  "One day, I found myself cursing, and one of the girls said:  "Does Jehovah approve of that?"  how humiliating!  Fortunately, Lee got out of that unwholesome environment and began to make spiritual advancement.   But her experience illustrates the danger of living with people who do not respect your standards.  

Next time: Finding Suitable Roommates

From the Awake! magazine, 2002