“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26 NIV
Have you ever heard the line “I choose my friends, my friends don’t choose me” in a “mean girl” movie? It is not always advised, but it should be a factor in our relationship selection.
If you let your relationships choose you, you may end up in a relationship that has a negative impact on your life (Proverbs 29:24). These range from acquaintances to friendships to romantic relationships. As a result, it is critical to choose your relationships wisely.
We’ve learned a lot about relationships so far, and today we’ll finish with choosing the right relationships according to God’s standards.
Our anchor scripture tells us why we ought to choose our company carefully. As believers, we cannot afford to go astray and the company we keep plays a significant role in that. Many times, we underestimate how impressionable we are. As the Apostle Paul said; “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” (I Corinthians 15:33 NIV)
In that light, here are two ways to choose your company wisely.
The first is to stick to God’s relationship plan. The Bible contains numerous examples of relationship templates for us to follow. Examples include Daniel, Shedrack, Meshack, and Abednego (Daniel 2: 49), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17), and David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18: 1-3).
One thing these relationships had in common was that they helped each other through difficult times. This is similar to the emphasis in the book of Proverbs.
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 NIV.
This is a standard for relationships.
The second option is to make your decision with your eyes wide open. While it is important to choose your friends with care, God has also endowed us with intelligence for this very purpose. (Proverbs 13:20)
It doesn’t take a revelation to realise that the office gossip should not be your best friend, that you should not date someone who isn’t saved, and that the woman who is vocal about dating married men should not be your mentor. Open your eyes and seek out relationships that will edify and keep you in God’s will.
DO THIS: Take some time to reevaluate your current relationships. Are they following God’s will? Does God approve of their presence in your life? Choose your relationships wisely.
Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 23-25