Page 15 - August 2026 - Truth & Tidings

But what happens if we don’t just leave person hate him; how much more do his
it at that? What if we keep bringing it friends keep their distance from him! He
up to others? We feel justified because may pursue them with words, but they
maybe there is still a bit of pain there, are not there” (19:7 CSB). Even though He
maybe still a judgmental spirit. “Did you knew all that was in man, the Lord Jesus
see what their child did in the service? Do Christ would have felt the pain as He saw
they even know how to discipline their Judas, a man He had befriended, go out
children?” Stirring up old offenses and that day to sell him for just 30 pieces of
having a judgmental heart is a surefire silver. What are my motives as a friend?
way to damage or even ruin a friendship. What motives do my friends have? A bad
“Whoever conceals an offense promotes friend is selfish.
love, but whoever gossips about it sepa-
rates friends” (Pro 17:9 CSB). How great a A Bad Friend Will Contaminate
forest fire can be started by just the small “Evil company corrupts good habits”
fire of our tongue. James was very in tune speaks clearly concerning the influence
with the human heart when he said that of those with whom we keep company
the tongue is a “world of iniquity … and (1Co 15:33 NKJV). While we often may as-
sets on fire the course of nature” (Jas 3:6 sociate this with the places they go or the
NKJV). A bad friend will gossip.
things they do, Scripture focuses more on
A Bad Friend Is Selfish the character of the person. “Don’t make
Have you ever asked yourself, Why am I friends with an angry person, and don’t
be a companion of a hot-tempered one,
friends with this person? Is it because they or you will learn his ways and entangle
always pick up the bill in a group outing, yourself in a snare” (Pro 22:24-25 CSB). Do
or because of the pool in their backyard, or you find yourself acting differently, and
because their birthday gifts are always the not in a good way, around a certain friend
most impressive? A bad friend will always or group of friends? Do I have a negative
think most about what they will get out of impact on those close to me because of
a relationship rather than what they can my behaviour? It is always a worthwhile
give. What if tomorrow that friend lost
everything? Would you remain as close? activity to consider the friendships in our
Scripture states that there is nothing spe- lives and see if any are causing harm in
cial, nothing foundational, if a friendship our lives. “The one who walks with the
is built upon the wealth or clout of another. wise will become wise, but a companion
“Wealth makes many friends, but the poor of fools will suffer harm” (13:20 CSB).
is separated from his friend. … Many en- Being friends with bad influences will
treat the favor of the nobility, and every bring harm into our lives. A bad friend
man is a friend to one who gives gifts” will contaminate.
(Pro 19:4,6 NKJV). It was the friends of a Just as in other facets of our lives, it is
wayward son who were quick to disap- valuable to evaluate whether the friend-
pear as soon as he spent all his inheritance. ships we have in our lives are to our
He spent it all and began to be in need. As spiritual benefit or spiritual harm. It is
loneliness crept in and he worked away also well worth the self-reflection exercise
with the pigs, how deeply he would have of looking at ourselves in the mirror and
felt this truth: “All the brothers of a poor asking, Am I a bad friend?

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