“Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---think about these things”
(Philipians 4:8 NIV).
Sometimes we might think a
friendship is just right when it isn’t. We have a tendency as human beings to
rationalize and believe that it is alright to have one foot in the world and
one foot in Christianity. It is fine to hang out with friends who do not
believe as we do as long as we don’t give in to temptation and do something
that is not pleasing to God. I think peer pressure is very real, even with
adults. We tell ourselves, well just this once I will do this, just to show
them I care about them, or I don’t want them to think I am not any fun. I will
ask them to church eventually and tell them about Christ. Meanwhile, I think
our relationship is just right.
I would like to tell you a little story about
me and a pair of pants that I thought was just right. I had bought a pair of
black pants and hung them up in our closet that I share with Rick. Well, one
morning, I was rushed and grabbed a pair of pants, put them on, and dressed up
for work. I got to work and noticed in
the mirror that my pants seemed long. I thought I would really have to hem them
that night. I put my hand in the pocket and thought, “Wow, these are really
deep pockets, and it is so cool that they have a pocket for my
cell-phone.” When I got home and changed
into my casual clothes, I noticed that I had been wearing my husband’s pants
all day long. Needless to say, I died laughing. But you see all day, I thought
they were my new pants. I thought they were just right.
When we are in relationships, we must first
of all think; Does this person help me to be the best Christian I can be? Do I
help this person to believe in the Lord? Do I act different with this person
than I do with my Christian friends at church? I am not saying you shouldn’t
hang out with non-Christians, but your very best friends should be helping you
live a life that is pleasing to God. They should be someone you can be
accountable to. They should be someone who knows the above verse and tries very
hard to live up to it.
Analyze your relationships and check to see
that you aren’t giving in to peer pressure and doing things that aren’t
pleasing to God. Make sure your true friends are Christians who have set the
mark high to follow God with all of their hearts.
Dear Lord,
Help us with our
relationships. Help us choose best friends that are doing your will in their
lives and who will help us to live a life that is pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
