Many people take comfort by keeping company with friends who are losers, who are less successful than they are, who are more troubled they are..This is one way of making themselves feel better...They compare themselves with the lowly person and bat themselves on the back saying " Oh, I am not like that fellow, I am better, I am more successful, etc..." It need not happen to the average person..
Interestingly, look at the Bible...Pharisee, who are scholars and considered the bible teachers of that time, loo, how he prays in in The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)):-
Luke 18: 11 (NIV)
11 The Pharisee stood by himself(D) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(E) twice a week and give a tenth(F) of all I get.’
But, look what Jesus has to say about them. :-
a) John 8:43-44 New International Version (NIV)
43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies
b) Matthew 5:20 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
c) Luke 11:44English Standard Version (ESV)
44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
d) Matthew 23:27New International Version (NIV)
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
Very strong words. But, the take away is this. They knew the Law..but, instead of doing the right thing they were hypocrite and probably knew about this..but, they took comfort by comparing themselves with others and felt comfortable in their ways...And Jesus calls them all sort of names !!!!!
In the present times we can always see this from people who stagnant, who backslide, who are generally losers and do nothing about it. Basically, they are lazy and laid back..so, to hide that fact from others ( i.e. From their loved ones) and to cheat themselves they constantly keep company with others who are worst off than themselves and feel happy about themselves..
They see someone drunk and rolling on the street and say to themselves " I can hold my drink and don't make a scene".
They see a person who take drugs and say to themselves " I don't do drug".
They see a fellow who is constantly out of work and say to themselves "I have a job/ business " But the real truth will be that they financially worst off..
All this is self-delusion, self-deception, ....
Finally, they end up surrounding themselves with people of that sort and happy that they are better !!! What a shame and what a pity. !!!!!
While the late Jim Rohn, a contemporary motivational speaker, is credited with saying “You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with,” this concept didn’t originate with him. For years, folk wisdom has taught us to be aware of whom we spend our time with:
“Birds of a feather flock together.”
“You can know a man by the company that he keeps.”
“If you lie down with dogs you’ll wake up with fleas.”
How the People Around You Affect Personal Success
The Secret to (High) Self Esteem
Fire Your Friends: Drop The Negative People In Your Life
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