Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Relationships can be so complicated. In this post, I won’t be talking about relationships between a man and a woman. I’ll be covering friendships in general. Today’s verse packs a punch, doesn’t it? If your friends are not wise or even believers, how do you think they respond when you need help? The Apostle Paul gives us insight in this area.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Paul is speaking of close relationships here. Therefore, if your friend is a born-again Christian and solid in his faith, you will be able to turn to that friend for prayer, as well as counsel. However, if you have a long-time friend who is not saved, you will only get worldly advice.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The Apostle Paul knew what he was talking about. After all, Paul was a Pharisee before he had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-5. Can you imagine how his friends who were Pharisees felt when they learned of his conversion? No where do we see in Scriptures where Paul spoke of continuing his friendships without him correcting their religion.
Another reason to be equally yoked with someone who is saved and growing in the Lord is that you know that you can go to that friend and receive godly counsel, even if it hurts your feelings!
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
This not only applies to your friends, but to you as well! You should be solid enough in your faith to be able to provide biblical proof when you speak with another believer. I once worked with another believer and it was wonderful to be able to share God’s Word together. However, one day she was angry with the bank teller at the drive through and gave her a hand gesture that no believer should do. I began to distance myself after that. She came back to me asking why, and I gave her this verse:
Pro 22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: (25) Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Her pride prevented her from receiving the verse and our relationship was strained after that. There is a reason the Lord put verses in the Bible like this one. You are who you hang around with! Be wise in your selection of friends. Pray about the people that come into your life and let the Lord guide you, and He will reveal His will for you in this area.
If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
