Who are Your Friends?

"Who you are around is how you will sound." We are influenced by the people with whom we spend the most time.

God clearly states that "bad company corrupts good character" and that "those who walk with the wise will be wise."

There are two reasons for how we choose our friends. We choose friends based on admiration for them and the way they act, or the fear of being alone, so we choose friends who are available rather than because they will influence us to walk more uprightly.

 
I have met people who used words incorrectly frequently, and when corrected, they acted as though something rude happened and continued to use the words incorrectly.

 
These people had constant companions who were arrogant and self-willed, allowing them to believe being arrogant and self-willed was normal and even desirable.

 
Fitting into the baser way of communicating was preferable to these people because they didn't want to be different from their constant companions.
I have also witnessed those who have been mocked for raising their level of communication excellence merely for being different from the rest of the group.
It is wise to surround ourselves with those who accept and even celebrate the way we choose to walk. Those who attempt to demean us for improving ourselves will not be lovely friends; they will bring nothing but snark and rudeness to our lives that need not be present.

Those who are self-elevated and full of pride do not appreciate and even hate those who enjoy improving their lives through education or study. There are those who attempt to shame those who want to improve themselves.

 
God tells us to remove ourselves from those who are "Debbie Downers", attempting to revile and shame us into being like them. I am a strong believer in allowing people to be who they are as well as celebrate their improvements.
It is good to be around people who raise our level of wisdom.

 
Those who argue to win are foolish, but the wise enjoy an intelligent conversation to discover truth. No one has to "win", but both celebrate when they discuss to discover God's truth, God calls it "edification" to enhance our walk with Him.

 
There is a saying, "if I think about small things, I will talk about small things,". (Jefferson Fisher)

It is true that if we think about important matters, we will talk about important matters. When we are around people who are continually nagging about unimportant things, there will be constant jealousy, gossip, and judgment over things that don't even matter.

People who are invested in Spiritual and emotional growth invest in one another for the betterment of the sou,l and we all grow together.

Personally, I want to be around those who raise my level of thinking rather than diminish it.

 
1 Thessalonians 5:11-18 "Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."

Romans 14:18-19 "…18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

God's definition of edification is important in our walk with Christ.
"Building others in the truth for Spiritual and emotional growth to develop maturity."

 
Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.”

 
Helping one another mature, encouraging growth and change which leads to a more joyful and obedient life to the Word of Christ.