Show Me Your Friends

Andrew Roberts
06/17/12 - Conduct

The Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes wrote, "Tell me what company thou keepest, and I'll tell thee what thou art." Cervantes was not a prophet, he simply understood the strong influence friends exert over our lives. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. Scripture brings this truth to light.

Show me your friends …

And I'll show you your religious convictions. David wrote, "I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts" (Psalm 119:63). Our companions will help or hinder us in letting our light shine, doing good works, devotion to God and in getting to heaven. We ought to be concerned if we realize all our close friends are either godless or involved in false religion.

And I'll show you your favorite activities. "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man in rags" (Proverbs 23:19-21). We do things with our friends. Obviously, we do not choose friends so we can AVOID them. We want to spend time with them and generally pursue common interests. Are you involved with the party-hard, drunken, drug-using crowd? Well, guess what that makes you.

And I'll show you your feelings about proper speech. "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise" (Proverbs 10:19). Some people's mouths are a hotbed for sin: gossip, profanity, anger, criticism. Let us remember, "Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Cor. 15:33).

What Do Your Friends Say About You?