Jehoshaphat was one of the greatest kings of Israel. Like David, he was a man after God’s heart. The Bible says, “his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord”. Jehoshaphat was loyal to his devotion to God and brought down all the high places of idol worship the people had set up in the nation of Judah. However, one of his gravest mistakes was his decision to form an allegiance with two evil kings that reigned over Israel: Ahab and Ahaziah. Despite all the good he had done; God was not pleased with this partnership, He didn’t approve of Jehoshaphat’s ungodly alliance with men who had evil hearts. When Jehoshaphat tried to build ships with king Ahaziah, the Lord destroyed them. Just as God was displeased with Jehoshaphat’s choice of friends, He is jealous over the company we choose to keep. While we are to be peaceful and cordial with everyone if possible, we are not to bring into our confidence people who have a different spirit to us. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’ Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God…” The company we keep does influence us. Just as iron sharpens iron, so too will our friends and those we keep company with, sharpen and shape our character – whether for good or evil. Trust the Lord to bring like-minded people with the same spirit of faith and victory into your life. Keep a close watch on your circle of friends. If their lifestyle fails to meet the standards of God’s Word, and they ignore correction spoken in love, it’s a good indication that they aren’t the right company to keep.