當遠離信仰態度反覆無常的人，不可與他們結交（箴24章）

我兒、你要敬畏耶和華與君王．不要與反覆無常的人結交．因為他們的災難、必忽然而起．耶和華與君王所施行的毀滅、誰能知道呢？（箴 24：21-22）

交友是門深奧的學問，並不是隨心所欲結交即可。交友不慎，還不如不要結交，以免受到虧損。箴言這裡勸誡人另一件事情，就是「不要與反覆無常的人結交」，若有這樣的人在身邊，也當盡快遠離。

何謂反覆無常？箴言這裡一開始先提到「要敬畏耶和華與君王」，才提到「不要與反覆無常的人結交」，可見這是箴言要我們不要與這樣的人結交的主要原因。這些人的反覆無常，在此處可能是針對那些對神的話語的遵從狀況而言，也就是有時候好像遵守神的命令，有時候又輕易地違背神的命令（與君王的命令）。

聖經中所有的惡人，皆是指不遵守神命令的人，不單是行為令人髮指的惡人而已。這些惡人，可以是態度很溫和、說話很溫柔、也很願意幫助人、有世人所以為的一切美名，但是卻是不相信神、不專心跟從神的人。正如主耶穌說過：

當那日必有許多人對我說：「主阿、主阿、我們不是奉你的名傳道、奉你的名趕鬼、奉你的名行許多異能麼？」我就明明的告訴他們說：「我從來不認識你們、你們這些作惡的人、離開我去罷。」（太 7：22-23）

箴言這節經文中的「耶和華」當然指的是真神，也就是今天合乎真理的「共信之道」；「君王」可以是真教會中關於行事細則方面的「共識之道」。這兩樣，都是敬畏神該遵守的原則。若有人對於共信之道、共識之道，時而大聲疾呼要堅守，時而因為個人好惡就覺得可有可無，這樣的人，「他們的災難、必忽然而起」，也就是總有一天會離開真道，遠離真神。那時若與他們結交的人，價值觀恐怕會受他們的影響而扭曲，將來更可能遭受「耶和華與君王所施行的毀滅」，也就是在末日一起受罰。

反覆無常的人，常常是指那些有自己一套理論的人，所以想法有與神相合的部分時，就令人覺得他們很敬虔；一旦想法與神相悖時，就堅持自己的想法，不聽聖經真理、也不遵守教會中奉主耶穌聖名所決定出的規章細則，而任憑他們私慾作任意的改變。

主耶穌說：

不背着他的十字架跟從我的、也不配作我的門徒。（太 10：38）

又說：

耶穌轉過來、看着門徒、就責備彼得說、撒但、退我後邊去罷．因為你不體貼神的意思、只體貼人的意思。於是叫眾人和門徒來、對他們說、若有人要跟從我、就當捨己、背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的、〔生命或作靈魂下同〕必喪掉生命．凡為我和福音喪掉生命的、必救了生命。人就是賺得全世界、賠上自己的生命、有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿什麼換生命呢？（可 8：33-37）

信仰是嚴肅的，不能憑人的個人價值觀決定要怎麼信，應當要捨己，否則不配成為主的門徒。真理只有一是，沒有似是而非的理論。若是在真理上反覆不定、在教會既定的共識之道上反覆不定，則不可以與他們結交，當保持距離、以策安全。

惟有那愚拙無學問的辯論、總要棄絕．因為知道這等事是起爭競的。然而主的僕人不可爭競、只要溫溫和和的待眾人、善於教導、存心忍耐、用溫柔勸戒那抵擋的人．或者　神給他們悔改的心、可以明白真道．叫他們這已經被魔鬼任意擄去的、可以醒悟、脫離他的網羅。（提後 2：23-26）

By Isaiah Kao

Stay Away and Do Not Associate with the Fickle in Faith (Proverbs 24)

My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those who are fickle, For their disaster will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin that comes from both the Lord and the king? (Proverbs 24:21-22, NASB2020)

Making friends is a profound subject, not something to be pursued casually. If one chooses friends unwisely, it is better not to associate at all, lest harm befall. Here, Proverbs warns us specifically: Do not associate with those who are fickle. If such people are near, we must keep our distance.

What does it mean to be fickle?

Proverbs first exhorts us to fear the Lord and the king, then warns against associating with the fickle. This shows the primary reason for the warning: those who are unstable in their faith. Their inconsistency likely refers to their obedience to God’s word, sometimes appearing to follow His commands, yet at other times easily disregarding them (and the king’s commands).

In the Bible,evildoers refers broadly to those who do not obey God’s commands. They may not always appear outwardly wicked; some may seem gentle, kind, and helpful, admired by society. Yet if they do not believe in God or follow Him wholeheartedly, they are still evildoers. As Jesus said:

Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:22-23, NASB2020)

“Jehovah ” refers to the true God, the path of "common faith". “King” may refer to the "common consensus" within the true church regarding administration. Both are principles to be upheld by those who fear God. If someone treats the common faith and common consensus inconsistently sometimes insisting on their importance, other times dismissing them for personal preference,the Bible warns: their disaster will rise suddenly. Such people will eventually depart from the true way and from God. Those who associate with them risk having their values distorted and may share in the destruction that comes from the Lord and the king.

Fickle people often have their own theories. When their ideas align with God’s, they appear devout. But when their ideas conflict with God’s truth, they cling to their own reasoning, ignoring the Bible and disregarding the church’s regulations established in the name of the Lord Jesus. They change things at will, driven by selfish desires.

Jesus said:

And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (Matthew 10:38, NASB2020)

And again:

But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:33-37, NASB2020)

Faith is serious; it cannot be shaped by human values. The truth is one, not subject to compromise. Those who are unstable in truth or inconsistent in the church’s common consensus must not be associated with. Keep a safe distance.

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26, NASB2020)