Information Related to "It Does Matter Who Your Friends Are"
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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. Unfortunately, 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.
Related Information on UCG Sites:
Table of Contents that includes "It Does Matter Who Your Friends Are"
Other Articles by Jason Ranew
Teens and peer influence: