“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (KJV) 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (NIV)
“Do not be deceived, Bad company ruins good morals.” (ESV)
As we have already considered, both you and your future are defined by the books you read and the people you hang out with. The books you read and, in this media dominated age, what you view on TV and social media, with all their “on-demand” services, are all literally “downloading” information and entertainment into your heart and mind. Then, as Yeshua said, “out of the abundance of the heart” (what is stored there), “the mouth speaks.” Evil treasure in the heart means evil comes out and good treasure within means good comes out.
Add to this, as you read in the more modern translations of 1 Corinthians 15:33, the people you associate and hang out with have an incredible impact on your life. It can be said that you become more and more like the people you spend most of your time around. If they are people who inspire you to excel and achieve greatness, encourage and speak positively into your life, you will instinctively seek to rise above the status quo you may otherwise settle for. However, if they discourage and deflate you, speak negatively into your life, or bully and dominate you, your tendency will be to accept things will always be as they declare them to be.
Realising this, and knowing the scriptures, one young man started a summer job while at High School. He spent his first morning with his new colleagues, listened to the negativity and complacency which flowed from their mouths and witnessed even their physical, downtrodden demeanour which resulted from it. He resigned and left the workplace before lunchtime, saying he knew if he spent any length of time around them, he would inevitably become like them. Can I suggest you spend your time with Yehovah, hang around with Yeshua – and watch your life transform into being more and more like Him each day that goes by.