Walking with Christ will Cost us Friendships

I learned over the years the only way to be able to be bold is to not care if people like us.

 
Galatians 1:10
"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."

Acts 5:29
"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."
We can be loving and kind and bold, but many people we speak to will hate the boldness and not even see the loving-kindness. They will say we were mean and hateful because we were bold.

 
Ephesians 6:6
"not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."

1 Thessalonians 2:4
"but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

Luke 16:15
"And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."

When we live in a society now that considers it rude to correct or disagree we will be at odds often with those around us. It isn't that we are argumentative it's that the hearers interpret us as fighting because they are fighting. They see every disagreement or correction as a personal attack rather than a way of learning and growing spiritually and emotionally.

 
We encounter far more emotionally immature people now than in past generations.

 
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

We grow emotionally and Spiritually mature when we seek God on everything. He promised He would give wisdom liberally to those who ask. He will not bother giving wisdom to those He has already spoken to when they will not obey what He has already given.

 
James 1:5-6
"5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

Born-again believers have no excuse for not knowing what to do or how to think when they have the Holy Spirit, the very nature of Christ living in them. If we do not know how to be or what to do then we are not asking, that's on us.

If we continually worry about what people think or how they will react then we will not only not grow but we will regress to become like them. If you want wisdom and Spiritual maturity then you must give up desiring lots of friends. We will have a small handful and at times none at all, but wisdom from God is far more valuable than the friendship of the world. Hallalujah!