Friendship (3)
Tuesday 9th October 2018
'Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer.' Proverbs 13:20 NCV
Being in a close friendship doesn't mean that the relationship will never be challenging or that both people will agree on everything. Sometimes we can see our friends going down the wrong path, and they may even try and take us on that path too. But, being a good friend doesn't mean we must support our friends in every decision they make. When that decision is harmful to them, or to us, we can speak up and ask them, sensitively, to reconsider what they're choosing to do. We need to be brave enough to stand up for what we believe in, at the risk of upsetting the friendship. Peer pressure and people-pleasing have no place in friendships.
If we're strong in our faith and identity, we'll be able to be truthful and constructive in our friendships. Being close friends with someone gives us the opportunity to speak God's truth and wisdom into their lives, and them into our lives. The Bible says: 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another' (Proverbs 27:17 NIV).
So, not only do we need to be open to standing up for what's right, but we need to be prepared to accept when our friends challenge us about our attitudes or actions. The Bible says: 'Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer' (Proverbs 13:20 NCV).
So what now? Do you have a friend who's heading down the wrong path? Ask God for the opportunity to speak his truth and wisdom into their lives.
Tuesday 9th October 2018
'Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer.' Proverbs 13:20 NCV
Being in a close friendship doesn't mean that the relationship will never be challenging or that both people will agree on everything. Sometimes we can see our friends going down the wrong path, and they may even try and take us on that path too. But, being a good friend doesn't mean we must support our friends in every decision they make. When that decision is harmful to them, or to us, we can speak up and ask them, sensitively, to reconsider what they're choosing to do. We need to be brave enough to stand up for what we believe in, at the risk of upsetting the friendship. Peer pressure and people-pleasing have no place in friendships.
If we're strong in our faith and identity, we'll be able to be truthful and constructive in our friendships. Being close friends with someone gives us the opportunity to speak God's truth and wisdom into their lives, and them into our lives. The Bible says: 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another' (Proverbs 27:17 NIV).
So, not only do we need to be open to standing up for what's right, but we need to be prepared to accept when our friends challenge us about our attitudes or actions. The Bible says: 'Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer' (Proverbs 13:20 NCV).
So what now? Do you have a friend who's heading down the wrong path? Ask God for the opportunity to speak his truth and wisdom into their lives.
