Choose Your Friends Wisely

Why does God tell us to be careful to choose our friends wisely?

The answer is simple, every human being takes on the traits of those they spend the most time with and they will capitulate to the standards of the group to avoid being labeled a trouble maker.

When we have friends that love Jesus Christ our friends will be open, honest and seeking Christ right along with us. These people will encourage godliness, kindness and all the other fruit of the Spirit by their own example and by correction if anyone slips off the rails.

Those who love Christ care more about helping their fellow believers to progress toward holiness than they are concerned about being liked by them.

In our modern church system holiness and righteousness has been replaced with superficial friendliness. Those who desire to help others move forward in their walk with Christ are the ones who are demoralized and excluded from the pack.

All of the following verses are ignored by most of the modern church today. In obedience to God we will see stubborn and rebellious people becoming worse as they resist the truth. They will refuse to listen as well as working to accuse of wrong doing those who expose their sin .

Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Hebrews 3:12-13 "12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

Proverbs 27:5
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love."

1 Timothy 5:20
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."

Titus 2:15
"Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."

James 5:20
"Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Proverbs 9:8-9
"Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning."

Because we are living as in the times of Noah most people will be angry and resistant to truth.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"

Anyone who accuses others of mean spiritedness simply for stating the truth is one who walks on crooked paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

May many more born again believers stand strong and may many more believers who are on the crooked path begin to pray for humility to receive instruction from those around them.