Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20
Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).
Notice Jesus’ definition of friendship. His closest friends are the ones He opens Himself up to most fully. The reason they are friends is that Jesus has made known to them all that He heard from the Father. Jesus opens Himself up to His closest friends.
There is an important principle here: Open your life most fully to the friends you can trust most deeply. Jesus opened Himself up to different people in different degrees. To the crowds, He spoke in parables. To Herod, He said nothing at all. To the disciples, He made known all that He heard from His Father, and for this reason He calls them His friends. So, open your life most fully to the friends you can trust most deeply.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20). The people with whom you are closest will have the greatest influence in your life. The character of the friends you choose will rub off on you. And the deeper a friendship becomes, the more like your friend you will be. Friendship can bring you great good or do you great harm depending on the friends you choose.
Think about your circle of friends. On a scale of 1 (great harm) to 10 (great good), what kind of influence are these friends having in your life?
