Just for Youth... It Does Matter Who Your Friends Are
The Bible tells us that we get to decide whether we'll walk with the wise
or flounder with fools. Which will you choose?
by Jason Ranew
What impact have your friends had on you lately? This might sound like a
strange question, but your friends have influenced you—for better or
for worse—more than you think. Does it really matter which friends
you select? After all, shouldn't a Christian be willing to have anyone around
as a friend?
Some argue that Christians should invite everyone into their circle of friends
since Jesus Christ was inclusive during His earthly ministry. This belief
seems appealing on its surface, but there is more to the issue than meets
the eye. The Bible indicates that whom you choose as your friends has much
to do with how far you will go in life.
As a former prosecuting attorney, I observed many bright and talented young
people as they faced the criminal justice system. Regrettably, their presence
in a courtroom almost always came about because of unwise decisions. The
collective testimony of these young defendants reveals that long before they
were charged with an offense and brought before a judge, they made poor choices
of friends. A few examples illustrate this point:
Chuck (names have been changed) was an intelligent high
school junior who went to a privileged school and came from a good family.
He was athletic, witty and well connected. Although he planned on attending
a top university, one day he accepted some less ambitious individuals into
his ever-widening circle of friends. They tempted him to try alcohol and
marijuana. Soon he was comfortable with his newfound friends and habits.
One evening, following a day of surfing with his buddies, he went to a party
where he drank alcohol and smoked marijuana. He left the party and was arrested
for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. He was convicted
of the offenses and spent time in jail. At that point, his life wasn't ruined
but his future was certainly tainted. The court made it clear to him that
unless he found a new group of friends, this would not be his last visit
to the jail cell.
