Dangerous Friends

Reference: Proverbs 12:26 (NIV) A righteous man is cautious in friendship.

Observation: We become like those we hang around with. It is an interesting and important to note that the Bible tells us, really, two things. One, that we are to love everyone, even our enemies but, two, that we are to be careful about who we allow into our hearts as friends. Elsewhere in Proverbs we are warned not to associate with an angry man or copy any of his way. Another place suggests that we our reputation is built, in part, by those we are closest to.

We need to make a distinction between those we are called to influence and those we allow to influence us. If we are not careful to make this distinction we can end up being pulled astray by the very people we are trying to help.

We ought to be available to influence anyone that will allow us; neighbors, co-workers, family members, no matter how they live their lives. Jesus said that He had come to help the sick and unrighteous, the healthy didn’t need a doctor. We ought to have the same mindset.

On the other hand, if we are carefully looking, we will discover that God has placed in our lives those special few who can be great friends for us. They should be people of proven character that can make us better by the input they offer into our lives. It is those special people that God will use to refine us and allow us to refine them.

When dealing with the former category of people, we need to make sure they do not influence us to change, in the later category, we should welcome it.

Application/Confession: I don’t like to change. At least a part of me wants to stay just like I am and I sure don’t want someone else telling me where I need to change.

God has put great friends in my life, I need to be more open to allowing them to help me to become all that God has in mind for me. I am blessed to have them. I need to be more open to hearing what they have to say.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for my friends. Help me to value and listen to their input and recognize that you may be using it to bring change in me.