07/13/20/21
As Christians there is a very critical question we should ask ourselves, and how we answer it can very well determine the future of our souls. We should ask: “How do I chose my friends?”. Of all those who surround us as we wander the earth, who are those that we find worthy to be called our friends? The Bible speaks a great deal about friends and friendship, and this is for good reason… whether in good or bad behavior, we begin to reflect them, and they to reflect us.
“I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments.”
Psalms 119:63 NLT
Typically we surround ourselves with people who are a lot like us. We are drawn to those who have the same likes and dislikes, and call them our friends, but we are also drawn to people we want to be like in some unrighteous way. A ruthless and wealthy person who has made a fortune, might draw us to him because we also value, of desire, wealth. We overlook the poor character they might display in their lives because the money they have made is central to our heart’s desire. They may have ruined many lives in the process of becoming wealthy, but we turn a blind eye to that in order to have the wealth they now have… in fact we too can eventually begin to exhibit those same terrible personality traits that our poorly selected friend has.
“Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 NLT
So our heart often leads us to choose unsavory friends, not because we chose their poor habits, but because they represent what we have selected to be our treasure…
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:21 NLT
We need to exhibit wisdom when it comes to selecting our friends. We need to think on those things that are good, righteous, and holy, then associate with people who find these same things to be the treasure in their lives. Selecting the right friends strengthens us, and sharpens our faith, but choosing poorly can dull our faith just as easily.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 NLT
Paul writes of this friendship truth in his letter to the Corinthians. He tells them to beware of associating with those who teach false doctrine, or who are false prophets. Listen to what he says…
“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.””
1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT
So who are our friends, and why do we choose them? This is a question we need to consider carefully because we are also guilty, or innocent by our association with them. When someone wants to undermine a politician they might tell others about some lie they have told (if in fact there has actually been one), but typically it is much easier to associate them with the people they have befriended, who are known to be criminals, dishonest , or who exhibit some other bad character trait. If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that we do this selfsame thing when we first meet someone… we ask ourselves who they hang out with.
“Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?””
Mark 2:15-16 NLT
In this particular case Jesus was trying to save the souls of these men of poor character, but the Pharisees saw Him with them, and they immediately judged Him by concluding that they were His chosen friends. However, this required that Jesus defend himself by saying this…
“When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.””
Mark 2:17 NLT
Our friends define us; we are lifted up, or brought down, by them. They can sharpen our faith, and moral character, or they can destroy it. We can like the good in them, but we must be careful of the bad, because over time we will begin to reflect both. So let’s ask ourselves today’s opening question “How do I chose my friends?”. If we are not choosing our friends wisely then ask God for wisdom… not in an attempt to justify our poor choices, but to help us in making the correct ones.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:5-6 NLT
Prayer:
Father, thank you for placing good and righteous people in our lives that we might have many friends. Thank you Holy Father for giving us discernment as we choose those we will call our friends. Help us Lord to use the guidance of your Word as we look into the hearts of those we are drawn to. Let our friends be blessings to us, and we to them. Let our faiths compliment and strengthen one another as together we seek you as our joint treasure… and our friend. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who provides us with all good things. Praised be your name for the friends you send us who strengthen us in our weaknesses, and who in return draw strength from us to overcome their own. You are merciful Father, and call us friends as we seek you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We feel so unworthy and yet we strive all the harder not to disappoint you. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and see us as a reflection of Him… free of sin, and the perfect friend of those who once lived in sin. Pour your grace over us Lord, and protect us from false friends who through desire, or simply by who they are in their hearts, do us great harm. Help us be an example to our enemies, and those who desire to know you, so that their lives will be transformed in Christ, and in so doing they will become our friends in faith. In this way judge us to be pleasing in your sight, and seat us at your table forevermore.
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT
Rich Forbes