By Olubunmi Adebayo
*No doubt, times are changing, and so are our values and standards. But one critical subject we must pay attention despite the changes in time is : “who becomes your friend?”.*
*A friend is someone, who is not necessarily your family member, whose company one enjoys.*
*It can also be explained to be someone towards whom one feels affection because of trust, loyalty, acceptance or assistance,etc that exist in between you.*
*The Bible talks a lot about choosing our friends carefully.*
*The reason is this :*
*1) Friends majorly influence you, for good or bad – Prov 13:20 says “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”*
*The truth of life is that people you call “friends” will shape your character, by this, that their habits may become your habits :*
*1 Cor 15: [33] “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners”.*
*2) Know that not everyone who is nice to you is a true friend :*
*Prov 18:24- “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”*
*While coming to betray Jesus, Judas Ischariot engaged the use of a “kiss” on Jesus Christ :*
*Matthew 26: [49] “And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him”. Just imagine that – betraying via a kiss!*
*3) True friends tell you hard truths :*
*Prov 27:6 – “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”*
*A real friend will correct you when you are wrong. A fake friend will clap for you even when you are on your way to destruction.*
*4) Jesus set the standard in friendship. Consider what he said in John 15:13-15 -*
*“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends… I have called you friends.”*
*Real friendship will embrace sacrifice, loyalty and honesty.*
*Therefore, “be careful who you call your friend”. This is a critical wisdom for your life’s survival.*
*Even the Bible encourages one to test people by their loyalty, especially try and see who they are when you are down, their honesty to you when you are wrong, and see whether such people are really friends indeed or not. Also consider wether they will draw you closer to God or away from Him.*
*Today’s Reflection is not trying to push you to go out and start suspecting every Tom, Dik and Harry that comes your way in life, but to encourage you to be cautious and careful in choosing your friends or tagging people your “friend” – a friend can make you, and on the other hand, a friend can mar you.*
Top of the day to you 👍.
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
