Choosing Friends Wisely

 

 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways. 

Proverbs 2:12-22

We need friends. We can’t go through this world alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

 

It’s important to surround yourself with people who believe in you; who support your goals; people who help you along the way to positive goals.

 

We need friends who will encourage us, help us grow spiritually and who build our character. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 instructs, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”

 

Our friends influence our character. We call that peer pressure. We don’t need people in our lives that will constantly let us do the wrong things. Our friends ought to hold us accountable to God’s standards and help us up when we’re slipping. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character.”

 

We want good friendships. Friendships with people who are “bad company” do not help us. God wants us to steer clear of people who are constantly bringing us down. Separate yourself from those who are not in your corner. The ones who do not show that they truly believe in you and are unsupportive of the positive changes you want to make. Proverbs 13:20 warns, “The companion of fools will suffer harm.”