Choosing Friends

Two items from earlier this week that speak volumes. These are truths that will set the path for lives.  First is this graphic, the second is a quote from ‘The Soul Doctor’ on Facebook”

Your mind is the centre of all spiritual, physical and emotional activity. Anything you allow into your mind ultimately manifests itself into the physical realm.

The people we allow into our lives change us, and we will “be like the people you are around.” Their deeds and their speech will become a part of us. We don't change people, God does. Being around people who love and serve Him allows us to become "the people you want to be like."

If we choose those who are kind and considerate, but not setting a Christian example, we can offset that by asking them to join us with others who are. However, if our choices surround us with people who do not enjoy church, do not read the Bible, do not accept Christ as savior or the existence of God – “you will be like the people you are around” and “anything you allow into your mind ultimately manifests itself into the physical.”

Surrounding ourselves with people who say “Amen!” then that’s what we’ll say.  When we surround ourselves with people who curse, our language will become as theirs and we’ll end up breaking a commandment just by speaking God’s name.

How and why do we choose our friends?  There are huge generational differences. The youth are seeking acceptance, a knowledge that they are not alone as their world changes so drastically around them. Peer pressure is extreme in this age. It is hard to be selective about friends when the drive is to find a ‘best friend forever.’

Young adults have different pressures with new families and jobs. We can only pray that they seek God’s guidance while they were seeking a spouse. From my observation, they don’t. The time to be picky about your friends is long before seeking a spouse.

New Christians often lose friends.  When that happens, there are many opportunities within the church to build new, mentoring relationships.  Look for the aged women:

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:3-5 KJV)

The aged men have responsibilities, too:

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (Titus 2:1-2 KJV)

And, the youth in church are not ignored:

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (Titus 2:6-8 KJV)

We would do good to be surrounded by them – and learn from them. We will be like the people around us. I thank God for the people I am around who love and serve Him, helping me to do so consistently.