The “seed” for the thought I am sharing with you comes from the little Epistle of James. Precisely, James 4:4. Part of the Verse states: “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
The wrong kind of friend, looks like to me, can arouse the righteous “ire” of Almighty God! The noun “enmity” in the verse literally means “hatred!” It actually looks like God reserves the right to “choose” my friends! After all, we do belong to Him! “Ye are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19) And the next Verse boldly proclaims: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Wow!
Here’s another thought about friends, a God Thought. “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.” Proverbs 22:24
Why?
“Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” Proverbs 22:25
Obviously, wrong friends can be dangerous to our spiritual growth!
Godly people need godly friends!
The Book of Proverbs lists at least two dozen (more really) of the kinds of people we need to avoid!
Look … “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” (Proverbs 1:10) In other words, “Learn to say NO!”
The best view of friendship I know is this: “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” (Daniel 1:9) God gave Daniel this “friend!” And this man (whose name is unknown) helped Daniel navigate through one of the most dangerous events of his life!
Drop the bad so-called “friends.”
Ask the Lord to send you also the right kind of friends!
And the result?
You will help each other, encourage each other in the Lord! “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17
I must close. It’s nearly Church time. I am preaching a Revival this week and (by the way) ask for your sincere prayers. Two more Verses …
“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24, and clearly that Friend is Jesus our Saviour!)
He is my Friend!
Now, just one more Verse, with Jesus talking: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends.” John 15:15
Now, I am His Freind!
Glory to God!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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