Choose Your Friends Wisely
Our Lord has a specific plan for each of our lives. We are His masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things that He planned for us long ago. We are citizens of heaven here on earth as foreigners for just a short season to fulfill God’s will and purpose. On our journey, we will meet many people who will impact our lives. Those we choose to call our “friends” are the ones who will probably have the most influence on us. They can help us fulfill our calling or serve as weights that will slow us down. Some will be a gift from God, and others will be tools in the hands of the enemy. That is why we must learn to choose our closest friends wisely. (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 3:20, Colossians 4:1-3, Ephesians 2:19)
“Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
I remember when I was a young teen, my mother would try to warn me about hanging out with the wrong crowd. She always finished her lecture by saying to me, “Lisa, birds of a feather flock together.” Of course I had that teen know-it-all attitude, and I would respond to her, “Mom, just because they do those things, or act like that, doesn’t mean I do or that I will.” I was so naïve. The more I hung out with them, the more I changed for the worse. I started to compromise everything good my parents had taught me. I listened to the advice of my friends more than I would listen to my mom who loved me with all of her heart and only wanted the best for me. She was right—I did start becoming part of their flock by looking, talking, and acting just like them.
She was trying to teach me to choose my friends wisely because she knew that if I hung out with people that did bad things, I could follow their influence and get in trouble. She wanted me to hang out with people who were doing positive things with their lives because she knew that if I followed their example, I too would reap the rewards of doing good. King David knew this also, and gave his sons the same advice. Listen to what he tells his sons…
“Oh, the joy of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.” Psalm 1:1
“I don’t spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.” Psalm 26:45
His advice stuck with son King Solomon too. Listen to what he says…
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.” Proverbs 13:20-21
“Don’t do as the wicked do; and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.” Proverbs 4:14-15
No matter what age we are, we should choose our closest friends carefully. If our closest friends are ones who are backstabbers, haters of God, rebellious or unrepentant ‘Christians’, insolent, proud, boastful, drunkards, partiers, or gossipers, then we are in danger of allowing our contacts with these individuals to influence and corrupt us. We must realize that sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough. We may not intend to participate in our friends’ sinful activities, but it is really easy to find ourselves compromising what we stand for, our values, and our morals, when we are spending excessive time bonding with others who refuse to acknowledge God, or have abandoned the Word for their own foolish ideas. Their sinful influence is like the yeast of compromise that will eventually spread through our minds and hearts, causing us to be torn between our beliefs and our friendship. (Galatians 5:9, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Romans 1:28-32)
Sooner or later, they will encourage us to participate in their sin. Maybe it’ll sound like this...
“It’s ladies night. We’re going dancing, come with us. There’s nothing wrong with dancing. It’s not a sin. You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to, but even Jesus drank wine.”
“Did you here that _______ is in trouble? She looks terrible! I ain’t one to gossip, so you didn’t hear this from me. But I heard…”
“I hooked up with this hot guy. He’s got a lady, but I don’t care. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I’m hooking up with him tonight. He’s got a really hot friend! Come with us.”
These types of ‘friends’ are tools in the hands of the enemy, meant to cause us to stumble on our Christian journey. They will try to keep us from following the truth. It certainly isn’t God who put them there to test us. He never tempts us to sin. So let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially these friendships that will trip us up. And let’s find friends that belong to our Good Shepherd’s flock. (Galatians 5:7-8, James 1:13, Hebrews 12:1-2)
“…Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
We all should enjoy the companionship of friends who truly love the Lord with pure hearts, because they will come along aside of us to help us run this race instead of causing us to stumble. Since their desire is the same as ours, to live for Christ Jesus, they will be the conduits that God will use to help us on our journey.We need true friends that will pray and intercede on our behalf, speak the Word of God into our lives, encourage us to be living witnesses of Christ Jesus, and who will want to hear our dreams and visions from God. Friends who will encourage and motivate us to step out in faith and trust what God is calling us to do for Him. We need friends who will challenge us to become the women of God that He created us to be. As iron sharpens iron, so these friends will sharpen us. (Proverbs 27:17)
When we have problems or temptations that we are facing, we need friends who will speak the Truth to us in love. A godly friend will bring us back to what the Word of God says about our situation, knowing that it is His Word that will set us free and give us hope. They will share with us how they overcome their struggles and temptation. They will encourage us to do what is pleasing to God. These are the types of friends we need in this sin infested world.
We must never lose sight of the fact that we are here in this world for such a time as this to be used by God and to fulfill His great purpose. Friendships with people who love the Lord will help us fulfill the vision and purpose that the Lord has put on our hearts. Friendships with people who live only to satisfy their sinful desires and gratify the cravings of their flesh will hinder us. It is time for us to come out from among them and enjoy the companionship of those who truly love the Lord.
May the Lord help us to evaluate our friendships and give us wisdom and the courage to separate ourselves from those ‘friends’ who are tools in the hands of the enemy. May He bring us friends that have a true heart for Him, and that will love us because of their love for Jesus.
(all the above scriptures were taken from the New Living Translation)
Posts
Add this button to your site. Copy and paste the code below. For more button options 
2 comments:
Sometimes I am so lonely as I am very picky with whom I hang. Although I know it's difficult at times, this post just gives me strength.
Brother I can relate..I went through a lonely season too. It was nuts because I was lonely while having so many people around me.
I am picky too about who I hang out with or who I choose to call my closest friends. Been pulled down too many times in my past. I need lovers of Jesus next to me. Warriors who fight with me and for me..and I will fight for them too.
I pray that the Lord bring godly brother in your life who you will be able to relate to and trust. In Jesus name..Amen!
Post a Comment