Who Has Your Ear?

Bad company corrupts good character. So does bad advice.

You become like the voices you listen to most. Friends, family, podcasts, the group chat, the algorithm, that one coworker. Let’s find out who’s really advising your life.

“Don’t be deceived! ‘Evil companionships corrupt good morals.’”1 Corinthians 15:33 (WEB)

👑 The king who asked two groups, then picked his friends

King Solomon died. His son Rehoboam took over, and the people came with one request: “Your father worked us hard. Lighten the load, and we’ll serve you.” Rehoboam asked for three days to think. He got two opinions.

The elders who served his father“If you will be a servant to this people today… then they will be your servants forever.”1 Kings 12:7 (WEB)
The guys he grew up with“My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.”1 Kings 12:10 (WEB). They actually wanted him to say this. Out loud. To a nation.

He went with his friends. Ten of the twelve tribes walked out that day, and the kingdom split for good.

Here’s the lesson: Rehoboam didn’t lack good advice. He had it, in the room. He just chose the voices that sounded like him. Most of us don’t need more advice. We need to notice which advice we keep picking.

“One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”Proverbs 13:20 (WEB)

🎭 Meet the voices

Every life has some of these. Tap each one to see where they show up in Scripture, and in your phone.

💬 Whose voice is this?

Read the message. Name the voice. Then decide if it deserves the volume you’ve been giving it.

🪑 The slide: walk, stand, sit

Nobody wakes up and decides to join the wrong crowd. Psalm 1 shows how it actually happens: a slow slide from walking past, to standing around, to sitting down for good.

“Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.”Psalm 1:1 (WEB)

Think of one voice or group you’re not sure about. Where are you with them?

👂 My ear audit

First names or nicknames only. For each voice, choose: turn it up, keep it, or turn it down. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Build better company

Turning down the wrong voices works best when you’re turning up the right ones.

🤝 Band of BrothersFind your mentor and your Timothy 💛 Jonathan EnergyMaking real friends as an adult 🔊 Is This God or Just Me?Testing the voice in your head 🤔 Am I the Problem?Real drama, Bible verdicts 🏔️ Holy or Hungry?Ambition and the lonely top 📱 Daniel in the AlgorithmFor parents: the voices in your kids’ ears

Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). If a voice in your life is threatening, controlling or abusive, that’s more than bad company: please reach out to someone you trust, or call 911 if you’re in danger.