Friends Must Love What We Love

Friends must agree with one another on the important matters. Those who attempt to undermine our standards and resolve to follow Christ cannot remain our friends. 

1 Corinthians 15:33 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"

Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 22:24-25
"24 Do not associate with a man given to anger;
Or go with a hot-tempered man,
25 Or you will learn his ways
And find a snare for yourself."

It is common for believers to be very careful not to offend their friends. When we cannot express our great love of Christ and the Word of God without anger emerging from our friends then we have ungodly friends. 

God is clear in His word that our constant companions must be those who love Him as much as we do.  Our friends influence us as much as we influence them. When we have godly friends they will uphold and enhance our desire to walk with Christ more fully.  This also applies to family members, we cannot be continually in the company of ungodly angry family members and expect to be able to express our love for God without conflict. 

Ungodly friends will keep us in a state of silence and frustration at the continual combativeness that comes from expressing our love for God's word and His principles. 

Friends are not just people we hang out with to have a good time. Friends are people who love us deeply, care about our concerns and love our character as well as our resolve to follow Christ. We find out quickly who these people are when we continually seek God for everything. 

Ungodly friends will deny the truths of the Bible and walk in angst every day we speak of Christ. 

Those who love Christ cannot hold back from speaking about Christ, He is all that is on their mind every day. This devotion to Christ is irritating to those who love this world and despise the truths of Christ. 

Ungodly friends do not express the attributes of the born again believer. They do not have the fruit of the Spirit, nor do they have any other character qualities that bless God. They will work against us at every turn to undermine what God is doing in our lives. 

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."

Colossians 3:12=14 "
"12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."