HOW DO MY FRIENDS AFFECT MY FUTURE?

Your friends can strongly affect your future because the people closest to you influence your choices, character, habits, and direction. Your best friends should be fellow church members who have the same faith and convictions as you. By participating in all the church services and activities you will make friends naturally. We are social creatures. God made us so. We all need the right kind of friends. 

THE INFLUENCE OF FRIENDS:

·      Friends can shape your character. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” — Proverbs 13:20 — This promises that you will be affected significantly by people you choose to relate to. You will become wise by associating with those who are wise, or you will suffer the painful consequences of evil relationships. 

• Bad company can pull you away from God and good decisions. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” — 1 Corinthians 15:33

• Warning against making friends with infidels.  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” — 2 Corinthians 6:14 — Many times Christians stay in relationships thinking that they can change the other person. It may be best to break off the relationship completely and let God work on the other person. You do not have to hate people, but you may need distance from friends who pressure you into sin, trouble, laziness, anger, or bad decisions. Psalm 1:1

• A true friend helps you become better. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” — Proverbs 27:17— Be loyal, honest, forgiving, and encouraging—but do not follow others into wrong.

• Friendships require investment on our part. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:” — Proverbs 18:24a

• Jesus is a True Friend. “and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” — Proverbs 18:24b

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry