“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ ”
— 1 Corinthians 15:33
Don’t be fooled into thinking that it doesn’t matter what kind of friends you have. Hanging out with immoral and dishonest friends can change you! They can ruin your good habits, morals, and godly character.
Sometimes believers think that they can hang out with dishonest or immoral friends because Jesus did it. After all, he hung out with thieving tax collectors and prostitutes. Shouldn’t we do the same thing so that we can be good witnesses to them? Yes and no. There is a difference between talking with “bad company” and choosing them for your closest friends.
Consider this example. When you mix a glass of pure, clean water with a glass of dirty water, it all becomes dirty and cloudy. The dirt spreads — not the purity. If you’re healthy when you sit next to a very sick person, you can catch his flu, but he won’t catch your health. In the same way, bad company is “catching.”
Do be friendly with everyone, but choose moral girls with good character for your closest friends. Then you can build one another up and grow in godly character together.
More to Explore: Proverbs 13:20
Girl Talk: Who are your closest friends? How do they behave? How do you behave when you are with them?
God Talk: “Lord, I want to make good choices when making friends. Help me to find those who have good character and who want to get closer to you. Thank you. Amen.”
From Girlz Rock by Kristi Holl