WHAT KIND OF FRIEND AM I?
I have been evaluating, in light of scripture, what should characterize me as a friend. (And who my close companions should be...) Although I will not be perfect in any of the standards that are set out for me, I need to honestly search my heart and see if I am CHARACTERIZED by these things.
I am praying and asking myself these questions:
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS BEING AN ANGRY PERSON?
Proverbs 22:24-25 do not be friends with an angry man, or you will learn his ways.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO LACKS SELF CONTROL?
Proverbs 23:20-21 do not associate with winebibers, gluttonous eaters....this will lead to poverty.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS REBELLIOUS AGAINST AUTHORITY?
Proverbs 24:21-22 do not associate with those who are given to change (of allegiance, against authority, change for the sake of change.)
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS PROUD, AND LIKES TO DEBATE, ARGUE, SLANDER, AND BE HEARD?
I Tim. 6:4-5 withdraw from the proud arguer. (he is puffed up with pride, although he is ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife about words, which result in envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissensions, slander, etc.)
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS USES FOUL LANGUAGE, WHO IS IMMORAL IN THOUGHT OR DEED, WHO IS GREEDY, OR DISHONEST?
I Cor. 5:11 Do not associate with, or even eat with anyone who claims to be a Christian, but is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is devoted to anything that usurps the place of God, or has a foul tongue, is a drunkard, swindler or a robber.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS DISOBEDIENT?
2 Thess 3:14 do not associate with disobedient.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS PRIDEFUL AND WHO SLANDERS ANOTHER?
Ps. 101:5 cut off him who slanders his neighbor, and who has a haughty look and a proud arrogant heart.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS A LIAR, OR WHO IS DECEITFUL?
Ps. 101:7 do no allow those who are deceitful and those who lie to dwell in your house
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS NOT REPENTANT, AND IS CAUGHT UP IN HABITUAL SIN?
Pr. 1:10-15 Do not walk with sinners
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO SPEAKS TOO FREELY, AND DOESN'T THINK BEFORE HE SPEAKS?
Proverbs 20:19 Do not associate with one who talks too freely, flatters, reveals secrets
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO DOES NOT USE THE WORD OF GOD AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN GIVING COUNSEL?
Ps. 1:1 Don't walk in counsel of ungodly, stand in way of sinners, sit in the seat of scornful
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO LIVES OR SPEAKS FOOLISHLY?
Pr. 9:6 Forsake foolish and live.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS DIVISIVE, AND CONTENTIOUS?
Rom. 16:17 be on your guard with those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, or are in opposition to the truth that has been taught. Turn aside from them.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS WILLING TO SHARPEN ANOTHER, WITH THE TRUTHS OF THE WORD, AND AM I WILLING TO BE SHARPENED?
Pr. 27:17 my companion should be one who sharpens, strengthen and build each other up.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS WILLING TO GIVE GENTLE LOVING REPROOF...BUT IS ALSO WILLING TO RECEIVE IT?
Pr. 27:6 my companion should be one who gives loving, gentle reproof when necessary
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS GROWING IN WISDOM, AND ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME?
Pr. 13:20 my companion should be one who helps me grow in wisdom
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED?
Pr. 11:13 my companion should be one who can be trusted
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS LOYAL, AND LOVES EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE HARD OR A PERSON IS DIFFICULT?
Pr. 17:17 my companion should be loyal, and love at all times.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO FEARS GOD AND SEEKS TO OBEY HIM?
Ps. 119:63 my companion should be those who fear God, and obey Him
If I am to be honest with myself, I must admit that I have fallen short in many of these areas at times. It is humbling. My desire is to be perfect in all of these areas, and yet I am in a process of growth! It has been so good for me to search the scriptures and be reminded of the standard. I pray that God will continue to "grow me up"! I pray that this little exercise has been helpful to you as well.
Lord, please reminded us to strive to be the kind of friend that YOU want us to be. Please help us to show each other grace as we grow in our understanding of what that means!
I am praying and asking myself these questions:
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS BEING AN ANGRY PERSON?
Proverbs 22:24-25 do not be friends with an angry man, or you will learn his ways.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO LACKS SELF CONTROL?
Proverbs 23:20-21 do not associate with winebibers, gluttonous eaters....this will lead to poverty.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS REBELLIOUS AGAINST AUTHORITY?
Proverbs 24:21-22 do not associate with those who are given to change (of allegiance, against authority, change for the sake of change.)
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS PROUD, AND LIKES TO DEBATE, ARGUE, SLANDER, AND BE HEARD?
I Tim. 6:4-5 withdraw from the proud arguer. (he is puffed up with pride, although he is ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife about words, which result in envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissensions, slander, etc.)
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS USES FOUL LANGUAGE, WHO IS IMMORAL IN THOUGHT OR DEED, WHO IS GREEDY, OR DISHONEST?
I Cor. 5:11 Do not associate with, or even eat with anyone who claims to be a Christian, but is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is devoted to anything that usurps the place of God, or has a foul tongue, is a drunkard, swindler or a robber.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS DISOBEDIENT?
2 Thess 3:14 do not associate with disobedient.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS PRIDEFUL AND WHO SLANDERS ANOTHER?
Ps. 101:5 cut off him who slanders his neighbor, and who has a haughty look and a proud arrogant heart.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS A LIAR, OR WHO IS DECEITFUL?
Ps. 101:7 do no allow those who are deceitful and those who lie to dwell in your house
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS NOT REPENTANT, AND IS CAUGHT UP IN HABITUAL SIN?
Pr. 1:10-15 Do not walk with sinners
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO SPEAKS TOO FREELY, AND DOESN'T THINK BEFORE HE SPEAKS?
Proverbs 20:19 Do not associate with one who talks too freely, flatters, reveals secrets
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO DOES NOT USE THE WORD OF GOD AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN GIVING COUNSEL?
Ps. 1:1 Don't walk in counsel of ungodly, stand in way of sinners, sit in the seat of scornful
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO LIVES OR SPEAKS FOOLISHLY?
Pr. 9:6 Forsake foolish and live.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS DIVISIVE, AND CONTENTIOUS?
Rom. 16:17 be on your guard with those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, or are in opposition to the truth that has been taught. Turn aside from them.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS WILLING TO SHARPEN ANOTHER, WITH THE TRUTHS OF THE WORD, AND AM I WILLING TO BE SHARPENED?
Pr. 27:17 my companion should be one who sharpens, strengthen and build each other up.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS WILLING TO GIVE GENTLE LOVING REPROOF...BUT IS ALSO WILLING TO RECEIVE IT?
Pr. 27:6 my companion should be one who gives loving, gentle reproof when necessary
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS GROWING IN WISDOM, AND ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME?
Pr. 13:20 my companion should be one who helps me grow in wisdom
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED?
Pr. 11:13 my companion should be one who can be trusted
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS LOYAL, AND LOVES EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE HARD OR A PERSON IS DIFFICULT?
Pr. 17:17 my companion should be loyal, and love at all times.
AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO FEARS GOD AND SEEKS TO OBEY HIM?
Ps. 119:63 my companion should be those who fear God, and obey Him
If I am to be honest with myself, I must admit that I have fallen short in many of these areas at times. It is humbling. My desire is to be perfect in all of these areas, and yet I am in a process of growth! It has been so good for me to search the scriptures and be reminded of the standard. I pray that God will continue to "grow me up"! I pray that this little exercise has been helpful to you as well.
Lord, please reminded us to strive to be the kind of friend that YOU want us to be. Please help us to show each other grace as we grow in our understanding of what that means!
You can visit Gina at her personal blog "CHATS WITH AN 'OLD LADY"
Labels: Gina's articles, girlfriends
posted by Unknown @ 12:15 AM
7 Comments:
Wonderful post!! This really makes me stop and think--not only of what kind of friend I am but also about who I have as friends, who I associate with, and who I choose as friends.
I'll stop by your "home" when I come home from work.
Thanks for allowing God's word to put these thoughts into my mind today!
Beth
This was really good food for thought my friend, thank you.
Wonderful post - thank you.
Oh no...I can't be with me!
Thank the Lord for His new and fresh mercies that flow down each every day. It's always amazing at how short I fall and how much He makes up that distance.
Great post - thank you.
This was magnificent. Best Blog post I've seen in a long time!!! I'm coming back again tonight to re-read. I linked you on my blog months ago and I know why - Scripture, Scripture, Scripture! Thank you for a clear reminder of what GOD thinks. HIS Word is the ultimate authority on everything - hard to realize sometime in the blogosphere.
I fall short. I am humbled. I too desire perfection in the friendship world. THANK YOU!
What a great post. Love the questions and thoughts. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I must admit difficult people are my area of weakness. I have a hard time loving at times. Sometimes I avoid rather than deal with it.
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