Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 13:20, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
American Standard Version
Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
World English Bible version
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20 Meaning & Commentary
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)
Mentorship is often viewed as a “shortcut to success.” If you want to succeed in a particular area of life or a specific field – one of the best ways to get there as soon as possible is through mentorship.
When we look at Proverbs 13:20 – it says, “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.” This offers a “shortcut” to wisdom in that we can tap into wisdom by associating with wise people. The truth is that someone may have tried many different things in life, succeeded at some, and failed at others, but through it all, they may have arrived at a place of wisdom in their lives. We can tap into their wisdom by associating with and being around them. They can offer us wise counsel and say, “do this, not that,” or “do it this way, instead of that way.” If we incline our ears and hearts to wise people, we become wise.
There is a saying that says, “better to learn from other people’s mistakes.” The Bible tells us that when there are advisors (or wise counsel) in our lives, our plans will succeed: Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. Just as good company brings success, bad company can bring destruction (or harm).
The second part of Proverbs 13:20 says, “the companion of fools will suffer harm.” As The Bible warns us elsewhere in The New Testament, whom we associate with can be very harmful:
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” The truth to be learned is that whomever we associate with rubs off on us. This can either work for us or against us – the decision is up to us! If we walk with wise people, we become wiser and become “like them.” Conversely, if we walk with foolish people, we become like them and suffer harm in the process!
Application
How can we apply Proverbs 13:20 to our lives?
We need to acknowledge and recognize just how vital the circle around us is! Although we can be tempted to think that we are not like those around us or that we will change them for the better, they do influence us. We cannot be so naïve to think that we are so spiritual or strong in our walk with God that we will not allow bad influence to impact our character. If The Bible says that good morals (or good character) can be ruined by bad company, we should heed that warning!
In the same way, we should do our best to rub shoulders with wise people! It is a Biblical principle that others help us become better people: Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. We can become better (or wiser) just by changing our associations! When we interact with wise people, we can pull the wisdom out of them and benefit from it: Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. Choice silver is precious; you cannot just find it lying around. How much more precious is a wise person with wisdom stored in their heart?
The best mentor to speak into your life is someone who has accomplished what you want to achieve or been where you desire to go. We need to seek out mentors like these as they can not only help us get to our destination, but through their wisdom – they can preserve and protect us from potential pitfalls and stumbling blocks! Conversely, we need to cut out any negative influence from our lives. It has the potential to not only hinder us – but even cause us harm along our journey!
Prayer
Mighty God, I thank You for Your Word, which corrects me when I go off track. I pray today and ask that you bring wise people into my life who can help me on my journey.
Please give me the wisdom, discernment, and courage to cut out those hindering my progress. I pray today and ask for wisdom in every area of my life. I ask this now in Jesus’ name. Amen!
