Text: 1 Samuel 17:57- 58; 18:1-4
Memory verse:
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
‭‭(Prov‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬).

Someone once said, “A friend is like a wristwatch that stays true at all times”. As great as friends can be, having a bad friend can be the beginning of the journey to destruction, but a good friend can be the ladder to the place of destiny. “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” ‭‭(Prov‬ ‭27‬:‭17‬)
Many marriages have been ruined because of wrong friendship. What about brilliant students who lost their focus after meeting bad friends?
God doesn’t want us to leave the choice of a friend to chances. Some people call everyone they meet their friends. No. Someone can be your acquaintance and not necessarily your friend. A friend is someone you share something in common with and who knows much about you. I am not talking about social media friendship.
The scripture instructs us to choose friends wisely. That is, we must be intentional about making this decision. Jonathan, from a royal family, chose David, the son of an ordinary person, as a friend, not for any selfish reason but for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. According to our text, everyone must be intentional about this.
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
‭‭(Prov‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬).
Many want good friends when they don’t have something good to give out. You see, no one can give what he doesn’t have. Friendship that doesn’t affect your moral and spiritual life is not desirable. Friendship that doesn’t encourage you to live right and to flee from evil is not good. A true friend should challenge you in godliness.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” ‭‭(Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭36‬-‭37).
Some people’s motivation for friendship is financial gain. A rich man has many friends (Prov 19:4). They have no interest in other things. Even when they see what can endanger the person’s life, family, or business, they will be quiet in order not to lose that friendship. They laugh when they are supposed to warn. They are blinded by gain. How will you feel if you made heaven and your so-called friend is in hell?
Friends, what is the motivation for your present friendship? May you not be guilty of the blood of your friend, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, let kingdom impact be my motivation for choosing any friend, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, let me never be guilty of the blood of my friend, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. My friends reflect who I am, just as I also attract likes.
2. Kingdom impact remains the primary goal for choosing my friends, while others are secondary.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng