Enticing Friends

"My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded...It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives." proverbs 1:10; 17-18

I remember each summer, usually near the time school was about to start again,how my mother would always pray with my sister and I about the friends God would be putting on our way that school year. She always prayed that we would have friends who would build us up and not down, who would know Him too, and that way not be a bad influence on us, but a positive one. My son has not started school yet, however, my not-so-little sister will be starting her Junior year, this coming Fall Semester and my precious, defenseless nephews, will be starting a new school. It is true that what you are taught you too will imitate, and I too have imitated this prayer for my sweet nephews and sister.

I am sure each of us have some level of anxiety as our children begin the school year, but we must remember to instruct, talk, and pray with them, about potential friendships that they will have to end or not make due to the consequences they can have on their little but so very important lives.

As we lecture and pray for our children, we too must consider the relationships we have made along the way. Yes, we are no longer children, but that does not mean that bad influences cannot creep into our lives as adults. Do not be persuaded by friends who entice you to do something you know does not feel right and is not right! We all have friends who do not believe in God, and that is okay, we must reach out to them, but do not allow them to change you. You will be invited to go to clubs or bars for a birthday bash or a promotion celebration, but remember always what the wisdom of God declares,  "don't be persuaded...It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives." Do not make a trap for yourself to fall into and later not be able to get out of it. So many Christians I know, proclaim they can walk into a club and since God lives in their heart, they will not drink or sin! God never asked them to do this and saying YOU CAN do that, is trusting on their own strength and depending on themselves and not God.

The instructions your parents gave you as kids regarding the type of friends you were and were not to make are still ever so important as adults. If you feel that ever since hanging out with a certain friend you gossip more, lie more, curse more, and even do things you never did before, distance yourself self from that relationship before, like the Word of God says, "you attack your own life."