A famer loaded up his shotgun and slipped out along the fence to make it warm for the crows that were pulling up his young corn.
The farmer had a very sociable parrot who, discovering the crows pulling up the corn, flew over and joined them. The farmer saw the crows, but did not see the parrot. He fired among them, and then climbed over the fence to see the execution done. There lay three dead crows, and his pet parrot with ruffled feathers and a broken leg!
When the bird was taken home, the children asked:
“What did it, Papa? Who hurt our Polly?”
“Bad company! Bad company!” answered the parrot in solemn voice.
“Ah, that it was,” said Father. “Polly was with those crows when I fired, and received a shot intended for them. Remember the parrot’s fate, children. Beware of bad company, for the old proverb is true, the ‘Birds of a feather flock together.’”
It is never safe for us to do anything just because many are doing it. God makes a clear statement on this point: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23:22Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: (Exodus 23:2).
We must be careful to know that the thing we want to do is right, and a good thing to do, rather than that there are many or few others doing it.
A writer in “The Scientific American” tells an interesting story about how an alligator sometimes gets his food. The alligator is a lazy beast and instead of hunting for something to eat he lets his victuals hunt him. That is, he lies with his great mouth open, apparently dead, like the possum. Soon an insect crawls into it, then a fly, then several gnats, and a colony of mosquitoes. The alligator does not shut his mouth yet. He is waiting for a whole drove of things.
A little later a lizard will cool himself under the shade of the upper jaw. Then a few frogs will hop up to catch the mosquitoes. Then more mosquitoes and gnats will light on the frogs. Finally the whole village of insects and reptiles settles down for an afternoon picnic.
Then all at once. there is an earthquake. The big jaw falls, the alligator blinks one eye, gulps down the entire menagerie, and opens his great front door again for more visitors.
That is like the trap that so unexpectedly closes upon pleasure seekers who choose the wrong company. “Be not deceived”; sooner or later, “evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Dear friends, don’t go with the crowd. The Saviour tells us: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”
ML 06/05/1959