The Right Friends

(Prov 14:7,8 MSG) The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch. The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon goes back to teaching us about the benefits of walking with the wise. This is definitely a recurring theme in his teachings. His point is that if you surround yourself with the wrong people, you will become the wrong person.

Why? Because those we choose to associate with will eventually - good or bad - influence us. I have already shared a great deal about this from Solomon's teachings, so this morning I will share with you something that Dr. I. V. Hilliard wrote in "Mental Toughness for Success." He said that there are four main factors that shape our value and belief system. Let's take a quick look at them:

1. Social Environment: Peer pressure is a powerful force, especially in our formative years. When we are attempting to form our own identity we oftentimes mimic those around us. If we are around the wrong people, we will mimic the wrong things. I know many of us don't like the saying, but in many ways, we are "a product of our environment." Solomon drives this home as he urges us to surround ourselves with the wise. Their wisdom will help us keep our lives on track. However, the foolishness of fools can land us all in a ditch!

2. Credible Authority Figures: This is a big one. Your mind normally filters what you hear, based upon the relevance of the person who stated it. For example, if a person you do not consider credible makes a statement you disagree with, you simply "blow it off." The statement will not mean much to you, because the person did not mean much to you. However, if a person you consider credible says something you disagree with, then you will seriously consider the source. It may be that you are wrong in that area and that you need to research it for a possible change. This is why it is so very important that we surround ourselves with Godly wise people. God, through them, will share valuable insight that will keep us on the path towards develop and destiny.

3. Repetitious Information: You eventually believe what you consistently receive. This is why it is very important to protect your "ear gate." If you surround yourself with fools, you are going to receive foolish input. But if you surround yourself with the wise, you will continually be in an environment of Godly learning.

4. Personal Experiences: We have all heard the lesson of telling a child not to touch the fire, and how they rarely listen until they experience the heat for themselves. Our personal experiences are emblazoned upon the canvas of our heart and no one can take them from us. They are part of the fabric that makes us who we are.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that since three out of the four of these have to do with others, it is extremely important that you make a conscious decision to surround yourself with the right people. One way or another, you will be influenced by others, so you might as well ensure that the influence you expose yourself to is good!

Remember, at the end of the day, you choose your friends and it's an important decision, because they can either help you keep your life on track or they can take you down into the ditch with them as they go!

Father, I thank You for helping me to see the significance of the role that my friends play in my life. I will choose my friends wisely. I will surround myself with Godly wise people, so that I can receive wise input and be influenced in the right way. I help to create a creative environment that will help foster growth and development for my friends and me. We influence each other in the right way and we help keep each other's life on track! In Jesus' name. Amen!