Resources/Articles
Keeping Your Faith Alive (30)
Friends are easy to find. We may keep them for a short time or a lifetime. However long we have them is not as important as the fact we have someone we can call a friend.
God created us as social creatures and knew it was “not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Although God made the provisions for us to have friends, it is our choice as to whom those friends will be. God did not pick them out for us, but He gave some firm suggestions. In Deuteronomy, God had Israel drive out the Canaanite nations, and would not allow Israel make a covenant with them, because they would turn away their hearts from serving God (Deuteronomy 7:1-11).
Psalm 119:63 and Proverbs 13:20 echo the need for making wise choices when it comes to friends. Surrounding yourself with godly people has a serious impact upon your faith. Hebrews 10:24,25 says we should “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works” and assemble ourselves together with those who love and honor God.
Popularity and wealth are often criteria people have for developing friendship, but Christians are not always the most popular or wealthiest of friends. If I am interested in my faith and going to heaven, wealth and popularity are not the standard for friends. It is whether they love God, live for God, and believe what God says. Those are the friends our faith needs. Let God help you pick the right ones.
