II Chronicles 22

“For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing” (v4). King Ahaziah’s own mother (daughter of wicked Ahab) was his “counselor in doing wickedly” (v3), and Ahaziah chose to listen to other evil advisors. As bad as these influences were, Ahaziah could have chosen to follow the example of his courageous sister Jehoshabeath and her husband, the priest Jehoida, who risked their lives to save a royal prince from his murderous grandmother. Ahaziah’s “undoing” came from choosing the wrong friends and mentors.

We tend to “walk in the ways” of people we listen to, spend time with, and admire. Our choice of mentors and close companions either brings us close to God or pulls us away.