Choosing Your Friends

Choosing Our Friends (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Reminders have come my way recently that the people we hang out with influence us. We often think we're strong, that we can be the "influencer" instead of the "influencee." Most of us who read Freedom Fighter know how often it doesn't work as we think it will.

The believer lives with tension. We're not to let the world (or people in the world) hinder our walk with Jesus. We're also supposed to engage those who live in the world in an effort to share our faith. Being salt and light without losing our "saltiness" and being overcome by darkness is not easy.

We need to hear Paul's instruction to the Corinthians. "Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits." Paul provides the instruction in the context of belief. Bad company can make us believe wrong things, and wrong behaviors flow out of wrong beliefs.

I knew a man several years ago who knew he had a drinking problem. He hit a wall one day and on his way to talk to me about it, he encountered one of his old "drinking buddies." His former friend convinced him that one drink wouldn't hurt anything. You know the story-one drink led to another and another. He got drunk, committed several crimes and wound up in prison for more than ten years. "Don't be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits."

All of us have the responsibility to engage in "redemptive relationships." We need to spend time with non-Christians, befriend them and earn the right to share Jesus with them. At the same time, we must use caution. Part of the caution for many of us includes understanding the areas of our lives where we are most vulnerable. Some people just don't belong in our circle of acquaintance because their influence will do us harm.

Perhaps the counsel of James in the first chapter of his epistle gives us another help in distinguishing good company from bad company. "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." None of us is wise enough to know what is best in every situation. That's why we can ask for wisdom. Choosing relationships will make us or break us. We must guard our hearts and seek God's wisdom. -- John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Ezekiel 35-36; 2 Peter 1

Think About This: When the Word dwells as a familiar friend in the heart to direct, counsel and comfort us, then it is a sign it abides there. The devil knows good and hates it, therefore knowledge alone is nothing; but when the promise alters the temper of the heart itself, then it is engrafted there. Richard Sibbes

Join us live tonight at 7:00 PM for the 2008 Christmas cantata, A Christmas Festival, featuring the America's KESWICK Festival Choir. To view, visit www.americaskeswick.org.

You can also watch our singles conference sessions now in progress: today at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM and tomorrow at 10:30 AM. Dave Edward is our speaker.