Be Mindful of The Friends You Keep

Lets begin by first looking at what the bible has to say in Job 4:1-6.

1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2. "If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking?
3. Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.
4. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.
5. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed.
6. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? (NIV)

In our life journey we come across different types of friends; the good, the bad and the ugly. Job experienced this in his ordeal in life. As we have friends who spur us up to do great things in life, so also we have dream killers. Some call them "destiny killers".

Congratulations if you have friends who encourage you and spur you to greater heights in life. But know it for sure that you are responsible for the type of friends you have. This is why the saying goes "Show me your friends and I will tell you who the type and person you are". This means that you are bound to attract your likes to yourself as friends.

It is strongly advised that you develop friendship in people of likeminds or those who are in one way or the other gonna support or contribute in you to actualize your dreams or spiritual goals. Remember the word of God in 1 Cor. 15:33 clearly states that "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

The qualities you should look out for in choosing your friends includes (but not limited to):

• Listens with empathy and presence
• Honours commitments
• Tolerate your pains
• Supports your successes
• Can admit to feeling envious

These were some of the qualities Jesus sought after when choosing his disciples. He didn't settle for those who weren't readily available to help him in his ministry, those who didn't honour commitments, who won't be present to listen to him. Take a look at the following bible passages:

• Mat 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
• Luke 5:11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
• Luke 9:59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
• Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Jesus made disciples (friends) of those who left what they had immediately to follow him, those who were always with him and listened to all he had to say. And it paid at the end as he was able to entrust his gospel to them to carry on his mission of bringing salvation to the world after he died and resurrected and went back to heaven.

Just as Jesus did before seeking his disciples, you too should always pray to God to give you good friends that will add to your value and not the ones that will diminish it, and to prune out those bad friends from your company, thanking him for good friends and help us to make use of every opportunity to his glory.