It is time to take inventory of our friends. Most people assume that they have certain friends in their life for a reason or that they are not free to choose who they are or are not friends with. The fact is that we choose who is in our lives, apoplexy who we take advice from and what relationships we develop. We choose what friendships we water and encourage to grow and what friendships (or possible friendships) we distance ourselves from.
Do you have the right friends in your life? Are your friends good influences on you? Are your friends believers in Christ and that he is the only way to heaven? Are your friends into New Age or other religions? Do your friends encourage you to keep your covenant of marriage or move on when times are rough? Do they look out for your long-term well being, pancreatitis even if it costs your friendship, or do they tell you what is easy or what you want to hear? Do you have friendships that you keep secret from your family or spouse? Do you put yourself in positions to meet the right type of people (e.g. bars and clubs or even work might not be the best way to meet good influences and real friends). Do our relationships — the people we choose to interact with, the time we spend, the content of our interactions — bring glory to God?
Our article today walks through many of these questions and gives you a simple exercise they use to evaluate their own relationships.
Is there anyone not on this list who should be?
Is there anyone on this list who should not be? If, for instance, someone is an ungodly influence, we need to graciously sever that friendship (1 Cor. 15:33). Is there anyone on your list that will bring other ungodly influences into your life (e.g. their ex-wife or ex-husband – they will always be a part of your life as long as you are with the person).
Emotions and feelings sometimes play far too significant a role in why and how we go about relationships. The Bible tells us, as does secular research, that the heart is deceitful above all things. Emotions often cloud our judgement. They can encourage us to see the worst in people or to look past the major flaws and sin that may result from certain relationships.
Priority relationships shouldn’t primarily be based on whom we “click with†or enjoy hanging out with the most, or even those who “need†us the most. Rather, our relationships should spring primarily from a desire to grow in godliness, encourage godliness in others, and share the gospel with the lost. This doesn’t mean that we cannot have friends that are fun and that we get along with. It simply means that we have a responsiblity to seek out and encourage good Godly friendships and to limit, and in some cases cut off, other friendships. God has a way of growing our investment in our spouse and Godly friends.
We must carefully consider the friendships in our lives, the influences they bring into our lives (good and bad) and our walk with God.
Read more at the article Carefully Considering Our Relationships.
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Authentic Christian Living team
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