Choosing Companions through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

God does not call us to be close companions with everyone who says they are Christians. We are to be close to those whom He assigns to us.

The account of Paul and Silas is a good example of this.

Acts 15:36-41 "36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

39 And there arose a sharp disagreement so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

If anyone in your circle of influence attempts to pressure you into spending time with or working with someone Christ did not command you, then you are free and even obligated to say, "God did not tell me to do that."

We must surround ourselves with those God places with us for His glory and for His purposes.

Never feel bad because you cannot please a family member who does not know God's will for your life. They may not like your choice to obey God and even may not believe that you heard from God, but that is not your problem.

We are not on this earth to give everyone what they want from us. We are here to please God and do His will.

We need to surround ourselves with those whom God has placed in our path. If we do this our hearts will be full and we will have companions who are on the same path with the same goals.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

1 Peter 1:22

"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,"

We will have trials and difficult people in our lives, but if our close companions are those who love Christ we have support for following Him.

Proverbs 13:19-20 "…19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools. 20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. "