A friend of mine recently expressed the need to have better friends and the need to belong to a community. She realized that she didn't have many friends, and that the friends she had were not encouraging her in the direction she feels she should be going.
It is a fact that our friends have an impressive influence in our lives. People who are constantly around people who smoke will eventually smoke. People who befriend people who enjoy the outdoors tend to enjoy it too. We always hear of couples who have been married for several years and how they resemble each other in so many ways. It's not because they had so much in common when they got married, but because they were growing together and influencing each other daily.
I remember the counsel of my parents when growing up to be careful with the friends I chose, and they always stressed the importance of surrounding myself with people who would have a positive and godly influence on me. The Bible also has a lot of advice for us when it comes to relationships. God always encouraged the Israelites to not marry and mingle with people from pagan nations and we know very well what happened when they obeyed and when they disobeyed God.
We've been house hunting. It's supposed to be a fun and exciting experience, but it's not like that all the time. We almost bought a house that was so beautiful with big windows, lots of light, and a big yard. Then a friend came to help with the inspection and showed us parts of the house that we hadn't seen before such as the foundation and pointed to us problems that could end up costing us a lot. I'm so thankful for this friend who made sure we didn't get into more trouble than we could handle. So we didn't buy that house and the house hunting continues. But this past week was supposed to be the week when we would close on that first house and get the keys to our new place. I expressed to a friend my discouragement and told her that that day I could be getting the key to my new house. She was quick to get me out of whining mode by telling me that that day I could be getting the key to my biggest nightmare!
Boy, did that put me back in my place! I had no argument for that because I knew it was true, and even though I already knew it in my mind, it was important for me to be reminded of it. And God used my friend to encourage me and lift me up on a weak moment of my life.
Friends are great and being surrounded by people who encourage us in our journey through this life is so important. Whichever people we allow to influence us could make a difference in whether we will enjoy eternal life or not! So I encourage you to surround yourself with people who will lift you up! People who are godly and loving. Get yourself involved with a church family. If you're not married, choose your partner well. Let the people be a blessing to you, but don't stop there. Be a blessing to them. Choose well your relationships.
It's true that we will still have problems with our friends. After all we live in an imperfect world. But if they are good friends the misunderstandings and problems will not affect the friendship and may even strengthen it!
On this journey through life on earth, I know where I want to end up. Soon my Savior is coming to pick me up and take me to Heaven and I want to surround myself with people who will encourage me on this. And there we will enjoy real, intimate, and trouble-free relationships forever!
http://www.walk-this-way.com/encourage.htm
"Encourage one another and build each other up!"
I Thessalonians 5:11
"Two are better than one. If they fall down they can help each other up. But pity those who fall and have no one to help them up!"
Ecclesiastes 4:10
