FRIENDSHIP.Sýnishorn

A friend is careful in choosing their friends

Who we spend our time with can change and shape us as people. Through their counsel, love and support our friends shape us deeply and influence many of the decisions we make in life. In this proverb God wants us to know that because of this truth we shouldn’t be friends with everyone. Some people can lead us astray. Our friends, their attitudes and characteristics can rub off on us. We learn their ways and may find ourselves ensnared. This means that being a friend and friendship itself requires discernment. We need to think wisely about who we should be friends with. 

This notion is not only found in Proverbs. In the book of Job, God rebukes Job’s friends because they gave him bad counsel. They were leading him away from God and undermining his confidence in him. In Deuteronomy we see that friends can lead you astray to worship false gods (Deut 13:6). God is saying who we make friends with matters. We need to be discerning when we think about friendship. 

Question Are there some friendships that are unwise or harmful to us? What could you do about this? 

Prayer Dear God, please help us to be careful and wise in choosing our friends. Please help me to be a friend who points people to you not turns them away. If we are stuck in unhealthy friendships, please give us wisdom to know what to do. Amen.