Find Friends Who Build You Up
By Rick Warren
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV).
God wants you to have non-believers as friends. He wants you to love everyone, show kindness to everyone, and help everyone you can. If you don’t have any non-Christian friends, you won’t be around anyone you can share the Good News with.
But your best friends should be Christians. They should be strong believers.
It’s always easier to pull people down than pull them up. That’s why you must make sure the people you hang out with the most are moving you in the right direction. They should be building you up rather than tearing you down.
Where do you want to be in 10 years? What kind of person do you want to be? If you tell me two things about you—the people you spend your time with and what you’re reading—then I can tell you where you’ll end up, without even knowing you. Those two factors will determine your future.
The Bible teaches us, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV).
Your friends are too important to pick by chance. You must be intentional. That’s why you need a church home. Get to know people at church. Build relationships. Join a small group.
Or start a group! Gather some Christian friends from your office or neighborhood to study the Bible together during lunch.
You need Christian friends. Do whatever it takes to build those relationships.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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