The bible warns bad company spoils useful habits. So if we have bad friends they could drag us down spiritually and even emotionally. We all have imperfections when we choose friends we should pay attention to how they respond when those short comings are pointed out. Also pay attention to whether they are forgiving or not. If they are not forgiving then you will have a bitter friend which really is not a friend. Leave them be if they do not forgive the bible warns they will not be forgiven. It is not our place to judge other but if a person consistently shows the qualities mentioned in these scriptures that are bad then we should be cautious about selecting them as a friend. If the person has many friends we may want to be careful it could indicate they are not careful when selecting friends.
(1 Corinthians 15:32, 33) . . .” 33 Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.
The bible tells us not to walk with scoffers or those who doubt God’s word.
(Psalm 1:1) Happy is the man who does not walk according to the advice of the wicked And does not stand on the path of sinners And does not sit in the seat of scoffers.
The person should be knowledgeable of the bible , when the bible calls someone stupid it means stupid in a spiritual way. Do they put more trust in mans knowledge then God’s the bible warns this can make a person deviate from the faith.
(Proverbs 13:20) The one walking with the wise will become wise, But the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.
(Proverbs 14:6-8) 6 The scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge comes easily to the person with understanding. 7 Stay away from the foolish man, For you will not find knowledge on his lips. 8 By wisdom the shrewd man understands the way he is going, But the stupid are deceived by their foolishness.
(1 Corinthians 5:6) Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough?
(Ecclesiastes 9:18) Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but just one sinner can destroy much good.
(1 Timothy 6:20, 21) 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called “knowledge.” 21 By making a show of such knowledge, some have deviated from the faith.. . .
(Proverbs 22:24, 25) 24 Do not keep company with a hot-tempered man Or get involved with one disposed to rage, 25 So that you never learn his ways And ensnare yourself.
(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) 11 But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.”
(1 John 3:6-8) . . .. 7 Little children, let no one mislead you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous. 8 The one who practices sin originates with the Devil, because the Devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest, to break up the works of the Devil.
This scripture does not mean to literally tear your eye out. But if you have a friend who may do things that could lead you to din then it may be better to cut your association with that friend rather then to be destroyed in the day of judgment.
(Matthew 5:27-30) 27 “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into Ge·henʹna. 30 Also, if your right hand is making you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to land in Ge·henʹna.
If someone talks about others in a bad way or gossips they are not a good friend. Often times those people are smooth talkers who can easily deceive others. These ones often times flatter people, if they flatter people a lot be cautious. Complementing people once in a while is not bad but watch their actions and if they overly complement people be cautious.
(Proverbs 16:27, 28) 27 A worthless man digs up what is bad; His speech is like a scorching fire. 28 A troublemaker causes dissension, And a slanderer separates close friends.
(Romans 16:17, 18) 17 Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them. 18 For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering speech they seduce the hearts of unsuspecting ones.
(Proverbs 26:24-26) 24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, But inside he harbors deceit. 25 Although he speaks graciously, do not trust him, For there are seven detestable things in his heart. 26 Though his hatred is concealed by deceit, His evil will be exposed in the congregation.
(Psalm 12:2-4) 2 They speak lies to one another; They flatter with their lips and speak with deceitful hearts. 3 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips And the tongue that makes great boasts, 4 Those who say: “We will prevail with our tongues. We use our lips as we please; Who will be our master?”
(Proverbs 13:19, 20) 19 Desire when realized is sweet to a person, But the stupid hate to turn away from bad. 20 The one walking with the wise will become wise, But the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.
Do they scoff at God’s word or do they happily take it in. Those who scoff at God’s word can deteriorate our faith.
(Psalm 1:1-3) 1 Happy is the man who does not walk according to the advice of the wicked And does not stand on the path of sinners And does not sit in the seat of scoffers. 2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, And he reads His law in an undertone day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, A tree that produces fruit in its season, The foliage of which does not wither. And everything he does will succeed.
Do they hold bitterness towards you when you have erred even after you have correct it? Those who are not forgiving tend to nit pick at your short coming or things that may annoy them about you. These ones do not know how to be happy and can rob you of happiness.
(Proverbs 17:9) 9 Whoever forgives a transgression seeks love, But the one who keeps harping on a matter separates close friends.
How do they treat others who are less fortunate?
(Proverbs 18:23) 23 The poor man implores when speaking, But the rich man answers harshly.
Be cautious of those who put the pursuit of wealth before spiritual things. It is not wrong to have wealth as long as spiritual things come first. Life’s experience has taught me these ones will turn on you and will even betray you often times.
(1 Timothy 6:9, 10) 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.
(James 4:4) 4 Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God.
This is talking about spiritual counsel and not worldly counsel. Do they accept spiritual counsel if not then they would not be a good friend. It means they either do not want to change their heart or they are avoiding the bible out of guilt.
(Proverbs 11:14) 14 When there is no skillful direction, the people fall, But there is success through many advisers.
Does this person put more confidence in what other say rather then the bible. Does this person boast a lot. These are signs the person may be a bad friend.
(1 Corinthians 5:6, 7) 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough? 7 Clear away the old leaven so that you may be a new batch, inasmuch as you are free from ferment. For, indeed, Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.
(Ephesians 5:6) 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.
(James 3:13-16) . . .. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above; it is earthly, animalistic, demonic. 16 For wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness, there will also be disorder and every vile thing.
(Romans 1:28-32) 28 Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting. 29 And they were filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice, being whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, schemers of what is harmful, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, and merciless. 32 Although these know full well the righteous decree of God—that those practicing such things are deserving of death—they not only keep on doing them but also approve of those practicing them.
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