Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
As I was growing up we were taught a song at church that told us to be careful with several areas of our life. It was taught in the form of a song that started Oh be careful. We were to be careful with our EYES and our EARS and our HANDS, our FEET, and most of all our MOUTH. I would submit that we need to add oh be careful little ones who your friends are.
Our verse comes from the Book of Proverbs and one of the most addressed topics in Proverbs is friendship. It points out how TO BE a friend (a friend loves at all times, Proverbs 17:17) and the value of a friend as a friend HELPS their friend(s) to be better (Proverbs. 27:6 and 27:17). Here in Proverbs 12:26 we are reminded to be CAREFUL of who we have as friends.
Why the CAUTION? Because as friendships develop the friend’s influence increases. With teenagers, a friend’s influence can easily and quickly become more important to them than parental influence. Proverbs 13:20 provides some very valuable insight as it states, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.”
Who are you hanging around?
Parents reading this: Who are your teenagers hanging around?
No matter the age of a person one must be careful with whom they associate. A great guide for who your friends should be is found in Psalms 119:63. It says, “I am a friend to all who fear You, to those who keep Your precepts.” In other words, your friend(s) should be those who love the Savior, love the Scriptures and love the saints. And to be a great friend you start by loving the Savior, loving the Scriptures, and loving the saints.
Friends, show me your friends and I will show you your future. Remember that friends are like buttons on an elevator – they can take you up or they can take you down.
“Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad Company.” George Washington
Continue Strong being and having friends,
And remember to DATE The Word