The Right Friends

• Has a friend ever convinced you to do something you wouldn’t have done otherwise? How did it happen? How do you feel about it now?

• Have you ever kept a friend from doing something wrong? If so, how? Why do you think you were able to do it?

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 18:24 reminds us of a very important truth: Friends have a big influence on our lives. If you’ve ever gotten in trouble for goofing around with a friend at school, you understand.

If you take seriously the words of the proverb, you need to do three things. First, you need to examine the friends you have now and how much they influence you. If you notice yourself getting into trouble when you’re with certain people, it may be time to find new friends.

Second, you need to surround yourself with friends who influence you in a good way. The first place to look for such friends is at church. Find out what your Sunday school class or youth group has to offer in the way of companions. You will also find Christians in your neighborhood, school and workplace, if you search hard enough.

Third, you need to be the kind of friend who influences other people in a good way. If you claim to follow Christ, you need to set a high standard for the way you talk and the way you act. Instead of being influenced by others, you need to be the one doing the influencing.

Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the friends you’ve brought into our lives. Please bless our efforts to be good influences on them. Amen.