Wrong Company of Friends:
It is really true that as long as we are still in this world, we will
always be mingling with people. People with different beliefs, principles,
philosophies, and religion will always be just around the corner. They are in
our workplaces, schools, neighborhood, communities, and in every places we go.
We always meet them and find some as well-meaning individuals and we even
befriended a few, if not, a lot of them.
While it is true that we always meet them almost everyday, we shouldn’t
be caught off-guard of the way they could possibly influence us one way or the
other. We shouldn’t be unaware of the fact that people around could impact us
either positively or negatively. The truth of the matter is that, if we
couldn’t influence them, we end up being influenced by them. That’s the sad
thing.
That’s why the scripture is prudent in admonishing us by saying, “Do
not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33).
I don’t really know how the world does it, but our unbelieving friends
have ways of tingling our emotions that we sometimes find them more meaningful
and enjoyable to be with than our Christian friends are. This is especially so
when they are there around to console us during our deepest moments where they
make us smile and laugh.
I’m not saying here that just because our friends are unbelievers, they
are entirely bad. No! In fact, we should be grateful that because of God’s
bountiful love for us, He even uses our secular friends to minister and comfort
us. This may even be a way for us to share our faith with them because, in the
first place, they wouldn’t even have the guts to help us if they hadn’t seen
anything positive in us. Unless, of course, if they do it with ulterior
motives.
Similarly, we also need to consider what the book of Proverbs remind us
when it says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of
fools will be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20).
Does it mean, then, that we can be perfectly sure we will be in good hands
when our friends are those who are completely Christians? Far from that. Not
all who professes Christianity is genuinely real. There are those who really
exploit others to execute their ploy of deceit, and there are also those who
are still struggling for changes from their old sinful lifestyle accidentally
affecting us.
But the bottom line here never changes. We need to be prudent in our
choices of our inner circle of friends. Since friends have the capacity to make
or break us, we need the help of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and
discernment in making authentic friendship, so this would not drift us away
from faith simply because of a mere dismay brought about by either professing
believers or alluring secular friendship.
Lack of Fellowship with Genuine Believers:
A burning piece of coal slowly diminishes its light all alone by itself
but miraculously glows all the more when joined together with other burning
coals. This same principle applies to every citizens of the Kingdom. Whether we
believe it or not, we really need one another to thrive in our Christian lives.
The Holy Spirit desires every believer to be His channel of blessings.
He doesn’t limit Himself by working only in just one individual person. He
loves to use each one to bless each other. That’s why it’s so wise for us to
deliberately enlist ourselves and look after a good life-group network where we
could regularly fellowship together with other believers.
There can be no other source of authentic encouragement, comfort,
wisdom, insight, motivation, enlightenment, and inspiration except for an
individual or group where the Holy Spirit works abundantly. The Source is so rich
that He never runs out of plentiful supplies, just like a fresh, crystal clear
water freely flowing from a prosperous river.
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water
will flow from within them." – Jesus (John 7:38)
A believer who withdraws himself/herself from joining or fellowshipping
with other Christians will slowly experiences decreasing desire to further yearn
after it, and instead finds himself/herself seeking it from people outside the Kingdom.
When this happens, his/her own judgment will dictate him/her erroneously that the
secular world’s companionship is more likable.
“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept
safe.” – Prov. 28:26
A Christian who finds himself/herself in this situation must immediately
conduct a deliberate turn-around, coupled with prayers, to deter any attempt of
the enemy to drift him/her away from faith.
(To be continued..)
A blessed day/evening to all!!
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