You have probably heard the phrase “bad company ruins good morals”. This is actually a verse from the bible warning the people of Corinth about the dangers of keeping company with those who are not truly led by God. This verse still rings true today. As a follower of Christ, there are many reasons why choosing the right friends is important.
Evaluating Our Social Circle
When you think about what you and your friends do when you get together normally what comes to mind? Before I rededicated my life to Christ, I could be found drinking and partying with my friends most weekends. These were friends that I could rely on when I wanted to go out and have a good time, but if I was honest, they weren’t the ones that I would turn to if I needed help in a trying time.
When Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:33, Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”, it still is true for us today. When we consistently hang around with people who are not leading us closer to God, it is very easy to be pulled in the other direction. If your friends make fun of you for your beliefs, don’t encourage you to grow with God or pressure you into taking part in things you know are sinful, it might be time to evaluate your social circle. Choosing the right friends is very important in assisting in your spiritual growth.
The Benefits of Having the Right Friends
There are many ways that friendship can enrich your life if you have the right friends. As Christians we are blessed to be part of a community of other believers who we can walk through life with.
The right friends can help you grow in your faith, encourage you and provide support. It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” When we have good friends and are good friends to others we can build each other up through our faith.
Choosing the right friends is important for more than just encouragement. Having friends brings you a sense of belonging in a community of people who are walking out their faith alongside you. Psalm 133:1 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”. It truly is good to do life together with other people who want to see you grow and succeed and will help you in all seasons of life. We weren’t created to do life alone!
Having friends that share the same beliefs and values can also help keep you growing in your faith walk. Proverbs 19:20 tells us to “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise”. Friends can keep us accountable and also set a good example for us. This is reflected in Proverbs 27:17 saying “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Finding and Choosing the Right Friends
You may be thinking “Where can I find these types of friends?”. The first step is to pray for the right friends. Ask God to put you in the right places at the right times to meet these people. This will likely require you to step out in faith. It will be out of your comfort zone if you don’t already frequent a local church, prayer group or similar gathering of Christian community. Even if you do, but aren’t normally very chatty at these types of places, you may have to ask the Holy Spirit for courage and say hello to someone you haven’t spoken to before, or sit with a group of people you don’t know. Sometimes it takes a little effort on our part first.
Maybe there are people who are already around you that have the potential to be good friends. For example, a sibling of your sister’s friend who would be in your age group.
If you don’t go to church or haven’t recently went, maybe it’s time to start. Sometimes it takes visiting a few different churches a few different times to find the right fit but don’t get discouraged. Once you find one that makes you feel welcome it will be worth the search! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you summon up the gusto and start introducing yourself to people. Striking up conversations with people who you find interesting, kind, funny, etc. It often takes a few times going to the same church to begin developing acquaintances that turn into friends down the road. It may also help to find out if the church has any events coming up and attending some of them.
Conclusion
Choosing the right friends is important because they will affect many aspects of our lives. Friends can either help strengthen us as we navigate life or can tear us down and cause us to stumble. We are influenced by the people that we surround ourselves with. Why not have encouraging, loving, supportive people who will always be there for you?
Closing Prayer
Lord, I lift up the woman reading this. I thank you for her desire to surround herself with community and friends who will support and encourage her. I ask that you would order her steps to the right places at the right times to meet people who will speak life over her and walk by her side through good and bad times. I pray that you would help her develop steadfastness while pursuing you in this time and trusting you to bring these people into her life. I also ask that you would give her the boldness to step out in faith and engage with these people when you have allowed their paths to cross. We thank you, Lord, that you have created community as a way for your people to lift each other up and bring joy to each other’s lives. In Jesus’ name, amen!
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