Influence of Friends
At Some Point in your life, you are going to find yourself close to people who are moving in the opposite direction that you are moving in. When that happens, you have to have a space (guardrail) in place or they might end up taking you out.
“DO NOT BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS.”
2 Corinthians 6 : 14
Being unequally yoked is not just about dating and marriage. It is a warning against forming close/intimate relationships with anyone who does not share the same faith and values as you. It doesn't mean to not have any unbelieving friends, it just means to be careful because eventually their belief system might influece you.
It is important to create some space in every relationship with guardrails. It gives you space to disagree and the space to say no.
Maybe categorize your relationships. Who do you want to be close to so that they can disciple you? Who do you want to be not so close to, but close enough to disciple them.
You may want to lay out your guardrails from the beginning of those relationships. When their behavior becomes too much for your guardrails, end it immediately and don't feel bad about it.
James 17 : 16
YOUR – ‘IN’ – THE WORLD
JUST DON’T BE – ‘OF’ – THE WORLD
You're in the world for a reason - to be a light in the darkness - and to be a witness for the lost. However, be careful and make sure that you are actually witnessing to and not participating in whatever sin they are.
The tension of moving in the opposite direction and being too close to the wrong people began for us in childhood. Our parents constantly freaked out about who you hung out with. Do you know why?
Proverbs 22 : 24 – 25
24 DON’T BEFRIEND (make friends with) angry people or ASSOCIATE WITH hot-tempered people,
25 OR YOU WILL LEARN TO BE LIKE THEM and ENDANGER YOUR SOUL.
Your Parents UNDERSTOOD this Very Important ‘PRINCIPLE’. Your friends ultimately influence and determine the quality and direction of your life.
All of us have to understand something about friendship:
“The thing that makes Friendship so ‘GREAT’
is the thing that makes Friendship so ‘DANGEROUS’”
Andy Stanley
When we are wiht our friends we drop our guard. Dropping our guard is great because we will tell them anything. However, it is dangerous because we will do anything just to keep them in our lives. When we are with people who accept us, we are the most open to influence than we will ever be. Acceptance leads to influence. We shut down with rejection. We open up with acceptance. We ignore our guardrail to keep a friend.
Do not be misled: “BAD COMPANY corrupts GOOD CHARACTER.”
1 Corinthians 15 : 33
“The righteous CHOOSE THEIR FRIENDS CAREFULLY, but the way of the wicked LEADS THEM ASTRAY.”
Proverbs 12 : 26
Your greatest regrets don't revolve around your enemies. Your greatest regrets revolve around being with friends. Things and behaviors that we used to consider sin, and now, you're not only open to them, you hear yourself defending them.
Because Friendship can be dangerous. We need guardrails. Making wise friend choices is a serious matter.
James 4 : 4
“You ADULTEROUS people, don’t you know that FRIENDSHIP with the WORLD means ENMITY (hostility, friction, opposition, conflict, discord) AGAINST GOD? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world BECOMES AN ENEMY OF GOD.”
“DO NOT BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS.”
2 Corinthians 6 : 14
Being unequally yoked is not just about dating and marriage. It is a warning against forming close/intimate relationships with anyone who does not share the same faith and values as you. It doesn't mean to not have any unbelieving friends, it just means to be careful because eventually their belief system might influece you.
It is important to create some space in every relationship with guardrails. It gives you space to disagree and the space to say no.
Maybe categorize your relationships. Who do you want to be close to so that they can disciple you? Who do you want to be not so close to, but close enough to disciple them.
You may want to lay out your guardrails from the beginning of those relationships. When their behavior becomes too much for your guardrails, end it immediately and don't feel bad about it.
James 17 : 16
YOUR – ‘IN’ – THE WORLD
JUST DON’T BE – ‘OF’ – THE WORLD
You're in the world for a reason - to be a light in the darkness - and to be a witness for the lost. However, be careful and make sure that you are actually witnessing to and not participating in whatever sin they are.
The tension of moving in the opposite direction and being too close to the wrong people began for us in childhood. Our parents constantly freaked out about who you hung out with. Do you know why?
Proverbs 22 : 24 – 25
24 DON’T BEFRIEND (make friends with) angry people or ASSOCIATE WITH hot-tempered people,
25 OR YOU WILL LEARN TO BE LIKE THEM and ENDANGER YOUR SOUL.
Your Parents UNDERSTOOD this Very Important ‘PRINCIPLE’. Your friends ultimately influence and determine the quality and direction of your life.
All of us have to understand something about friendship:
“The thing that makes Friendship so ‘GREAT’
is the thing that makes Friendship so ‘DANGEROUS’”
Andy Stanley
When we are wiht our friends we drop our guard. Dropping our guard is great because we will tell them anything. However, it is dangerous because we will do anything just to keep them in our lives. When we are with people who accept us, we are the most open to influence than we will ever be. Acceptance leads to influence. We shut down with rejection. We open up with acceptance. We ignore our guardrail to keep a friend.
Do not be misled: “BAD COMPANY corrupts GOOD CHARACTER.”
1 Corinthians 15 : 33
“The righteous CHOOSE THEIR FRIENDS CAREFULLY, but the way of the wicked LEADS THEM ASTRAY.”
Proverbs 12 : 26
Your greatest regrets don't revolve around your enemies. Your greatest regrets revolve around being with friends. Things and behaviors that we used to consider sin, and now, you're not only open to them, you hear yourself defending them.
Because Friendship can be dangerous. We need guardrails. Making wise friend choices is a serious matter.
James 4 : 4
“You ADULTEROUS people, don’t you know that FRIENDSHIP with the WORLD means ENMITY (hostility, friction, opposition, conflict, discord) AGAINST GOD? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world BECOMES AN ENEMY OF GOD.”
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