11 May | Teens
«Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful….But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.» Psalm 1: 1,2
Psalm 1:1 and 2 teaches us something very important about the companies we choose. The text says: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” This means that being blessed, that is, happy, also involves choosing well who we spend our time with.
Sometimes we may come across people who do not make good choices or who scoff at the things of God. These are not the best companions, for they can influence us to follow a path that is not pleasing to the Lord. And we need to be honest: we are all influenceable! Therefore, we should seek friendships with people who trust in God and value His Law. When we are around people who love and respect God, we feel encouraged to do the same. This is not advice to form a bubble with believers alone, but to pay attention to who we have been spending time with.
Take Action
Make a list of the qualities you think are important in a friend. It can be kindness, honesty, respect and love for God, among others. Then think about your friends and see which of them have these qualities. Try to spend more time with these friends, and together do activities that bring you all closer to God, such as studying the Bible, praying, or helping others. Remember, choosing good companions is an important step in living a life that is pleasing to God.