It's so important that who we keep in our inner circle is healthy and on the same path as we are what do I mean by that ? Read Below!!
Proverbs 18:24
"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 17:17
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity."
John 15:12-13
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this : to lay down one's life for one's friends."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you
are doing."
Proverbs 16:28
"A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends."
Proverbs 22:24-25
"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared."
Proverbs 12:26
"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. "
Proverbs 13:20
"Walk with the wise and become wise, associate with fools and get in trouble."
There are so many more choose friends wisely for bad company corrupts good morals, without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble, but with good counselors there is safety.
I have been is relationships where all the other party did was complain about everything in their life and marriage and started finding myself complaining and unhappy with my own marriage. Friend's it is so true that we start to take on the similarities and traits of our 5 closest friends so I ask you what do your friends talk about is it back with prayer and scripture is it godly or worldly advise??
Don't get me wrong we are all gonna vent once in a while however that should NOT include gossiping about our spouses or others and I think it's important to only vent with our close friends that we know are gonna call us out on our crap and sin if need be and we are able to do the same. These times should also be few far and between if we are hanging with those in constant complaint it's more than likely a sin issue that must be dealt with and if not limit time we hang out with these friends.
Another important note is when married I believe we should only be friends with other married "Christian" couples and NEVER FRIENDS WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX WHOM ARE NOT MARRIED. (unless your spouse is always with you NO EXCEPTIONS)
I also believe we should not discuss serious marital issues and concerns with anyone but a counselor or church leadership and if our friends bring it to us we need to lovely suggest just that and do not try to counsel them ourselves. Now I am talking serious stuff that needs more than our prayers and easier wise advise.
Remember good GODLY FRIENDS will ALWAYS lead you back to Christ in their counsel and advise giving and if they don't STOP going to them for any type of counsel whatsoever...
UNTIL Next Time,
Glory Be To God,
Cindy Bolt