The Law of Association
by Rev Dan Joseph
Wednesday 22 October 2025
The law of association states that you become like those with whom you spend time. This law corresponds to Solomon’s words, “He who walks with the wise grows wise but the companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverb 13:20).
We often misunderstand other’s influence on our lives. The two words that most accurately describe influence are powerful and subtle. The influence of others can be powerful because we all desire to have people like ourselves; therefore, we may start acting like others to gain their approval.
Their influence is also subtle, because we may think it has no effect on us. Often, we don’t know we’re being influenced until it is too late. Whether we realize it or not, however, the influence of those with whom we spend time has a powerful effect on how we will end up in life, on whether we will succeed or fail.
What we call peer pressure is simply this: people with whom we associate exercising their influence on us, trying to direct our lives in the way they want them to go. Adults, as w ell as young people experience peer pressure. They find it hard to disagree with other people’s opinions.
There are people who are forty, sixty or eighty years old who give in to peer pressure. Almost everyone is affected by it. People have the potential to create your environment. Be careful and let the word of God be your guide: many lives and visions have been destroyed due to peer pressure. Many marriages and the lives of the young children have been irreparably destroyed due to peer pressure. One way to avoid negative effects of peer pressure is to listen attentively to your conscience (your heart where the spirit of God dwells). Listen to your elders both in your church organizations, community, and family.
Your environment then determines your mind-set, your mind-set determines your vision and your vision determines your future and how you carry out God’s purpose for your life on earth, and the impact of those God’s purpose on your community. You must choose your friends wisely, selecting those who are truly with you and not against you. Show me your friend, they say, and I will show you your future. As you pray for God to deliver you from temptations, you must have to pray to God to deliver you from unfriendly friends, what others call, “frenemies” as well as undesired peer pressures.
Please read: 1 Cor. 15:33; 1 Cor. 5:11; Prov. 14:7; Prov. 22:24-25; Psalm 26:4-5; Psalm 1:1-4.
Note: There are two words that most accurately describe influence: powerful and subtle. You shall be no victim of either, in Jesus’ mighty name.
Let’s pray: Father, make me sensitive to the influences of those around me. I do not want peer pressure to control my life. I want my influence to come from You, Your Word and my vision. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today’s reading: Jeremiah 37-39; Hebrews 3
Rev Daniel Joseph, Dip Ed, BSc. Ed, B. Ed, M. Ed is an educator/teacher of science on the high school panel of the local board of education in the Ottawa-Carleton region. He’s a psychology of learning specialist. A scholar, always learning, a writer, teacher and trainer, adviser board of directors and pastor of the Light of the Nations ministry international, a non-denominational ministry with its headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.