A parable.

A story is told about a lonely robin that wished for friends. All the other robins had moved to other areas that had more freshly turned earth filled with fat worms, but this robin liked his own place and refused to go. However, when his last companion flew away, he grew lonely.

A flock of crows came by. “Robin,” the leader said, “we’ll be your friends. Fly with us to the cornfield. While we eat the corn you can dig for worms.

The robin hesitated. “I wouldn’t want to take any corn,” he said.

The crows cawed raucously. “You don’t have to. Everyone knows robins eat worms, not corn.”

At last, the robin agreed to go with the flock of crows. Now he could have friends, and after all, he wasn’t going to do anything wrong.

The farmer who owned the field had grown angry at the crows who were eating his corn as fast as he could grow it. He set up a net in the field to catch the band of thieves. When he arrived the next morning, he almost jumped up and down, he was so glad. The net lay heavy with struggling crows.

“What’s this?” he cried when he saw the lone robin among the robbers.

“Please,” begged the terrified robin, “I have done no harm to your corn. I am a poor, innocent robin who just wanted some friends. I have done you no harm …”

But the farmer sternly shook his head. “You may be telling me the truth, but I have caught you with those who were ruining my crops. You must take the same punishment they are given.”

Have you ever found yourself getting into trouble because of the “friends” you were with at the time? If you are with the wrong kind of people, you are going to be considered as one of them. The Bible says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)