Have you ever been on the playground at recess and noticed how much fun it is to hang out with friends who make you laugh, encourage you, and share their toys? But what happens when someone constantly says mean things, bosses everyone around, or dares you to break the rules? Suddenly, playing together stops being fun and starts making you feel worried, sad, or totally stressed out inside.
The truth is, the people we hang out with every day have a super big influence on who we become! Just like poison can make you really sick if you touch it or swallow it, poisonous friendships can hurt our hearts and pull us away from doing what is right. God cares deeply about who you choose as your best friends because he wants you to surround yourself with people who help you win at living for him!
Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
So what does choosing wise friends actually look like in real life? It means picking buddies who encourage you to make good choices, tell the truth, and treat others with kindness. If you have friends who are constantly negative, act controlling, or try to tempt you to disobey your parents or teachers, it is time to set some strong boundaries! You can still be nice and polite to everyone, but you don’t have to let poisonous behavior sink into your heart or dictate how you live.
Whenever you are deciding who to hang out with at school, sports practice, or on the bus, give your friendships a quick quality check! Ask yourself: “Does this person help me follow Jesus, or do they tempt me to get into trouble?” When you choose friends who love God and care about others, you help each other grow stronger every single day. Standing up for what is right takes courage, but with Jesus on your side, you can build awesome, healthy friendships that show his amazing love to the world!
Talk About It
- If you could create a goofy, futuristic friendship tester machine, what light would flash and what funny sound would it make when it finds a super loyal friend?
- What is our main Bible truth today, and where can we find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a time you had to deal with a bad influence or a bossy friend, and how did you learn to handle it?
- Why is it sometimes really hard to say “no” when a classmate or friend dares us to do something we know is wrong, and how can Jesus give us the strength to stand firm?
- What is one specific quality our family can look for when choosing good friends, and how can we practice being that kind of encouraging friend to others this week?