Proverbs 12:26, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
God has designed us in such a way that we need each other; no one can succeed alone. But there is need to involve God in every relationship – to discern before you disclose, enquire before you make that acquaintance, and assess before you grant access. A true friend is someone who helps you in your weaknesses and encourages you in your strengths. Today it appears that people’s weaknesses are often what connects them together as friends. This leads to unhelpful associations where gossip breeds among the talkative, hope is snuffed out among the pessimistic and anger is aroused among the impatient.
There are four kinds of people in society today: those who add to your life, those who subtract from your life, those who multiply your life and those who divide your life. Every relationship you have either nurtures or nourishes a strength or weakness within you. It is easy to follow the crowd – so who is around you and where are they taking you?
If you choose to move with people who are lukewarm spiritually or cold hearted, that fire within you will soon begin to grow dim. So look for those who will add and multiply your life and establish relationships for Christ’s sake, based on the principle set out in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You for the grace to be in relationship with You. Help me to walk with the wise and to allow my love for You to overflow to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.