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.”

Spending time with Riff Raff

A neighbor once complained that our food pantry was attracting riff raff. That made me smile. It reminded me of the time that Jesus was accused of being a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

It was true. One Jesus disciples, Levi, was a tax collector. They were considered as undesirable as prostitutes and thieves. They were excluded from religious services and social events. Their testimony was not valid in court.

Upon accepting Jesus' call, Levi threw a big party for his fellow tax collectors and friends. He wanted them to meet Jesus and the Apostles. His friends would have been outsiders but they all needed Jesus.

Levi had only been a believer for a short time but he is so concerned about the condition of his tax-collecting buddies that he takes a risk and throws an evangelistic party. The veteran spiritual leaders – highly educated, thoroughly trained, well-seasoned – missed the entire point of what Levi and Jesus were doing at this party.

Levi demonstrated the relational concept of soul winning. Like Levi we each have a circle of friends and acquaintances whom we can invite them to a church event that they might find interesting.

Would you dedicate Friday nights to Jesus? Plan a night of board games and snacks and invite an unchurched family so you can get to know them. Include another Christian family. As you spend time together and as God leads, you can move conversations deeper into personal matters, and finally into spiritual matters.

Create opportunities to hang out with unchurched people by becoming involved in community groups, school organizations and local politics.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders;

make the most of every opportunity.

Colossians 4:5

Tweet