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As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17Proverbs 27:17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17 Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.

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Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

1 Corinthians 15:331 Corinthians 15:33
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
33 Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you.

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As my children have grown older with each passing year and are now to the point they have developed friendships that take them beyond the confines of our home and family unit, I have once again been confronted with the importance of how crucial it is to choose one’s friends wisely and selectively. As I think back over my formative years, I recall times when I didn’t make such wise choices in friendships and the consequences I suffered as a result. Now as a parent, I don’t want my children to make the same mistakes; even though I know they probably will. I want to instill in my children an appreciation for surrounding themselves with the right kinds of friends who will be a good and positive influence on them and bring out the best in them. And as I reflect on how I can teach them that truth, I can’t help but wonder if God was looking to do the same thing for us as His children when He inspired the verses above.

The Proverbs 27:17Proverbs 27:17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17 Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other.

WP-Bible plugin verse has been one of my favorite verses for years. I have come to realize the invaluable worth of having a friend (or two, etc.) who makes me better just by being around them. God designed us to need each other, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden when He said that it wasn’t good for man to be alone. As humans, we’re not wired to be islands unto ourselves, we’re meant to be in community with others in order to fulfill our purpose in being on earth. If we’re surrounding ourselves with the right people who are like-minded and bear the reflection of Christ, then we will grow in our walk with God and actually be able to help others grow too. If we surround ourselves with questionable or even disreputable people, then we run the risk of becoming like them, or being corrupted by their influence. Does this mean we should never be around worldly people or those who haven’t given their lives to Christ? No! It just means they shouldn’t be our closest friends. In order to set ourselves up for success as followers of Christ and to grow in our walk with Him, we must surround ourselves with people who have the same goal and purpose for their lives.

The old cliché, “Birds of a feather flock together,” comes to mind. That means that you are likely to hang around people who think and act like you and share the same values and worldview as you. It is just a natural gravitational pull. But, it isn’t a pull that is so strong that we don’t have any control over it. We can be proactive in choosing to build relationships with people who will help us achieve the goal of becoming more Christ-like. In fact, in order to love God the way He wants us to, we MUST choose to surround ourselves with those kinds of people! And, we must become that kind of friend for others as well.

If your closest friends don’t challenge you to live more sacrificially for Christ, then I’d suggest it may be time to invest in some other friendships. True, godly friends will not only encourage and support you through the ups and downs of life, but they will motivate you to mature in your faith as well. Real friends won’t just tickle your ears with flattery and tell you only what you want to hear, but they will speak the truth to you in love even when it may hurt a little or sometimes more than a little.

Another thing that godly friends will do is help you reach beyond yourself and learn how to be a help to those in need around you. Some of the most memorable and impacting ministry opportunities I’ve ever had in my life were arm in arm, side by side with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether on the mission field, at church, or in the community, some of the most impacting times of worship and ministry in my life have occurred when I was “loving God” while connecting with others.

I count myself extremely blessed to have found some incredible men and women of God to surround myself with. They are tremendous sources of encouragement, support, and challenge in my daily walk and I could never express enough gratitude to God for them. I know that I am who I am largely because of the impact they have on me and how God regularly uses them in my life. I wouldn’t even want to imagine living without them!! I hope you have friends like that in your life, and that you, too, are that kind of friend to others.

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Take stock of who your closest friends are. Whoever they may be, ask yourself these questions about them:

• Do they live a life of godly integrity through their actions and their speech?
• When is the last time they prayed with you?
• Have they recently spoken with you about something they learned from God through His Word or prayer, etc.?
• Can you trust them to be real with you? Do they speak the truth to you in a compassionate manner?
• Do they demonstrate a genuine love for you?
• Can you honestly say that you have grown and matured in your faith and relationship with Jesus as a result of their

presence in your life?

prayer

Lord, thank You for being such a wonderful Friend to me. Thank You for knowing me inside and out and yet still choosing to love me! I pray that You would constantly help me to be wise in my relationships with others and help me to constantly be surrounding myself with people who will help deepen my walk with You. May I also be that kind of person in the lives of others.

In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.