Are you a companion of fools?
Friends!
Do you select your friends, or end up with them? In today's society friends are the single biggest influence on a teenagers life. Friends are followed by the media, such as MTV and South Park and 3rd are parents. In fact the youth leader is number 17 on the list...a disappointing fact to us youth leaders.
Since friends have such a huge influence on your life we encourage you to ask yourself this question; "Do you chose them, or end up with them?" Typically, it is a blend. We seek acceptance, loyalty, understanding, entertainment and trust from our friends. Factors such as the amount of time we have lived in an area, our own confidence and the various activities you are involved in all have significant impact on who we end up with as friends.
It has been reported that friends have more influence on us than our own convictions. For that reason we can't be careful enough in who we chose to forge friendships with. We should be very clear with our own convictions, beliefs and moral standards. A true friend will respect them not test them.
It is also extremely important to acknowledge that we are judged by our friends. Being seen repeatedly with a group known for drug use will cause people to assume you are using drugs with them regardless of the facts. While this may not be true and may be unfair it is the way things are.
We are not suggesting you abandon friends because of past or even current indiscretions, we just want to encourage you to surround yourself with people who share your committment to Christ, to family and to education.
Keep in mind the lesson taught in Proverbs 13:20 "A companion of fools will suffer harm."
The fool is heading down a wayward path and harm is in their future, but the lesson is that it is the companion of the fool who suffers harm.
I had a friend who got into a fight, a foolish thing to do. I attempted to break up the fight and my nose got broken by the other guy. My friend was the fool, I was the companion...but it was my nose that got broken!
Choose your friends wisely, they are a key influence in your life! Trust in God to surround you with the right people. Ask Him in prayer to guide you and your friends.
Do you select your friends, or end up with them? In today's society friends are the single biggest influence on a teenagers life. Friends are followed by the media, such as MTV and South Park and 3rd are parents. In fact the youth leader is number 17 on the list...a disappointing fact to us youth leaders.
Since friends have such a huge influence on your life we encourage you to ask yourself this question; "Do you chose them, or end up with them?" Typically, it is a blend. We seek acceptance, loyalty, understanding, entertainment and trust from our friends. Factors such as the amount of time we have lived in an area, our own confidence and the various activities you are involved in all have significant impact on who we end up with as friends.
It has been reported that friends have more influence on us than our own convictions. For that reason we can't be careful enough in who we chose to forge friendships with. We should be very clear with our own convictions, beliefs and moral standards. A true friend will respect them not test them.
It is also extremely important to acknowledge that we are judged by our friends. Being seen repeatedly with a group known for drug use will cause people to assume you are using drugs with them regardless of the facts. While this may not be true and may be unfair it is the way things are.
We are not suggesting you abandon friends because of past or even current indiscretions, we just want to encourage you to surround yourself with people who share your committment to Christ, to family and to education.
Keep in mind the lesson taught in Proverbs 13:20 "A companion of fools will suffer harm."
The fool is heading down a wayward path and harm is in their future, but the lesson is that it is the companion of the fool who suffers harm.
I had a friend who got into a fight, a foolish thing to do. I attempted to break up the fight and my nose got broken by the other guy. My friend was the fool, I was the companion...but it was my nose that got broken!
Choose your friends wisely, they are a key influence in your life! Trust in God to surround you with the right people. Ask Him in prayer to guide you and your friends.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home