1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT
Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character."
Paul was instructing the church not to make company with false preachers that are lying about the resurrection of the dead, that's why he sad "don't be fooled by those who say such things", so it was not really about character but false doctrine and Paul says it can corrupt good manners and with this instructions from Paul, I want to ask this question from you that "who are those that surrounds you" ?
Relationship matters a lot, you must watch and be careful about the relationship you keep, it is certain that you can't do God's will alone or live a lonely Christian life, there's need for fellowship, relating with others, but we must make sure they are relationship that edifies, build us up and not the one that is capable of negatively affecting us.
Those you call best friends, close partners, are they not the ones that their lifestyles tempts you to do the same thing they are doing?
Are they not the kind of people that invites you to parties and not to study?
Are they the ones that complains that you are too spiritual because you pray always and you study always?
Or
Are they the ones that inspires you to do more on your service to God?
Are they the set of people that encourage you to do evangelism, to give abundantly, to pray for hours, to study for hours?
Which one are the traits of those you are identifying with? You should know the one that will eventually bring you down one day and the one that will deny you of being tempted and build you up, even in our daily lives, the people will go along with can easily determine whether we are living for a glorious future or not.
This morning, examine! Look at your friends circle and make the right decisions, am not asking you to hate anyone, I am imploring you to say NO when you ought to, to withdraw when you ought to, to move closer when you ought to, you can also help them to live for what matters, but don't be too sentimental to make decisions to stay or withdraw when you ought to.
You are blessed.
