October 2, 2007
Proverbial Friendship: Choose Your Friends WiselyPosted by Bryan
If you ever want to appreciate the value of making a good choice, all you need to do is go shop for a watermelon. If you hang around a watermelon stand for very long, you'll eventually see someone come along and tap on the melon like it is a bongo drum. These wise watermelon shoppers are listening for the hollow thump thump that indicates the melon is ripe, the fruit is sweet and is ready for cutting. Inexperienced shoppers will look over the selection, sometimes picking the largest one, occasionally choosing the greenest one. More often than not, it is the watermelon drummer who selects the finest melon in the fruit stand.
Choosing friends can be a bit like choosing a good watermelon. Sometimes it is tempting to choose the friend who is the most attractive, or who appears the most successful, or who himself seems to command an audience because of personal charisma or charm. However, these standards never guarantee that a potential friend will finest selection or an unfortunate choice. The Bible reminds us that "the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Sam 16:7)"
This is not a warning to surround yourself only with Christian friends. Rather, God simply encourages you to exercise caution in choosing your friends. Include in your circle of friends unsaved people who God will allow you to influence. Invite unbelievers into your life with the deliberate intent to introduce them to Jesus. Protect yourself from developing friendships with people who will lead you astray and damage your relationship with God. Choose your friends wisely and prayerfully, asking God to unite you with people who will come to faith through your example.