The Friend You Hate

    Everybody has one. That person you call a friend that you wish you didn’t.  The one in your group that will ruin everyone else good time when they are not happy.

The person at you side in all the pictures of your life you regret.  The lighting rod of most the drama in your life.  The friend that drags you along with every bad decision they make, every bridge they burn and every problem they cause.  You know the friend that you “hate”.  If they are so bad, then why are we still friends with them?

    Maybe you just have too much history. Maybe it feels impossible to sever your ties to them. Maybe we feel responsible for them and leaving them behind would give us too much guilt.  Whatever the reason, we keep them in our company no matter what the damage is.  It doesn't just work that way with friends either. Sometimes it is habits. Sometimes is a place. It’s that thing in your life you know isn't really good for you but for some strange reason you hold on to it.

   Now that you are thinking about that, consider some scriptures:

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.

1^st  Corinthians 15:33

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 13:20 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2^nd Corinthians 6:14 

    The Bible clearly tells us that the company we keep will have an effect on us.  Those people, places and habits we surround ourselves with will change our thinking and affect our spiritual life.  You can’t hang out with pigs and not get muddy.  You can’t hang out with worldly minded people and not pick up their ways.  You can’t be in the world and out of the world at the same time.

    It may be the most difficult thing you have to do but sometimes the best way we can add to our lives is by subtracting out worldly influences.  Despite the history and the difficulty, we need to separate ourselves from the people and the things that are drawing us back into the sinful world.  Better make sure the people you surround yourself with are the ones you want to spend eternity with because chances are you will!