Who do you hang out with? Are some of questionable character? Do you only hang out with people who are upright and honest? Are you careful who you choose to be with? Do you judge others by who they choose to hang out with? Do you dislike others judging you?
The people we choose to hang out with can say a lot about us. But sometimes, it doesn’t say what we want it to say. Other times it does. Hanging out with certain types of people can put us under scrutiny by others. Other types of people can think highly of us.
Here is the simple truth: no matter who we hang out with, someone can find a reason to be judgmental about it. The question we should ask ourselves is, what is our purpose for hanging out with the people we hang out with?
Jesus was hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. We might say he was out with the scruffy bunch. Tax collectors were hated by the Jews. They were considered traitors, and it was thought they cheated their fellow Jews to benefit themselves and the Romans. Sinners were any people who didn’t attend temple or synagogue regularly. In other words, Jesus was hanging out with people that likely didn’t make God their priority.
The Pharisees were looking down their noses at Jesus. They were judging Him for hanging out with the wrong kind of people. Yet, Jesus was hanging out with them to let them know that God loved them and had a plan of redemption for them.
If we are hanging out with the “wrong kind” of people for the same reason Jesus did, we are following His example. When we are following His example, we have no reason to worry about what others are thinking. Letting people know that God loves them and wants to redeem them is as good as it gets.
I pray we all stop judging others for who they are hanging out with. I pray we follow Jesus’ example. I pray we let others know that God loves them and he wants to redeem them. Stop judging. Follow Jesus. Spread the love of God. Tell others about God’s redemption plan.
Luke 15:1-2 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Marty Pressey 