We are in an era where social media is very common. I believe many of us have at least one Facebook account. Have you ever received one of those friend requests…you may or may not know the person but you engage in a little mind debate: To friend, or not to friend? Some people have hundreds to thousands of friends. Seriously, it’s a lie – there’s no way you can have all those “friends”.
Any way, numbers multiply joy and there is benefit in having friends, companions and acquaintances. It is God’s will that people have different levels of access into your life.
Who are my friends?
Definition: A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
Although Jesus was called a friend of sinners, (Luke 5:30) not all people had the same level of access to Him. Some were closer than others (Proverbs 18:24). When Jesus was going into the mountains to pray, He called Peter, James and John out of the 12, to go with Him. When we prove ourselves trustworthy, we increase in levels of friendship with Jesus.
Jesus taught that we love everyone including our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Important to understand is this: Friends can influence your life. Take some time to read 2 Chronicles 18:1-16 and you will discover the following:
►Friends can bring you to battles that are not yours.
►Friends can influence you to disregard the Lord.
►Friends can use/misuse you.
►Friends can put your life in danger.
To ignore, friend or unfriend? That is the question.
12 Kinds of friends to avoid
Avoid people who:
1. …walk in idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
2. …take a reproach against their neighbor. (Psalm 15:3)
3. …stir controversies (Titus 3:9-11)
4. …love arguments (2 Timothy 2:23)
5. …are immoral (1 Corinthians 5:11)
6. …are hot-tempered (Proverbs 22:24)
7. …entice to sin (Proverbs 1:10, Psalm 1:1)
8. …are fools (Proverbs 14:7)
9. …are drunkards and gluttons (Proverbs 23:20)
10. …are mockers (Psalm 1:1)
11. …are gossips (Proverbs 11:13)
12. …are violent (Proverbs 16:29)
Friends you need:
►Those who love at all times; when you are well and when you are sick (Proverbs 17:17, Mark 2:1-4)
►Those who are wise (Proverbs 13:20)
►Those who will tell you the truth even at risk of losing your friendship (Proverbs 27:5-6)
►those who are true friend – like Jesus (John 15:13)
To answer the question of, To friend, or not to friend, you will need to do three things:
1. Evaluate your friends
2. Take some to the outer court
3. Bring some into the inner court
Some people have so many friends such that they have no friend. Do not be like them!
