Being the Right Kind of Friend

Bible Reading:   James 1:17-18

Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above. . . . He never changes or casts shifting shadows.   James 1:17

Emily’s fifth-grade class was in the middle of a math test when Mrs. Chen got called out into the hall. Emily noticed the teacher had left the room, but she quickly focused her brain back on the word problem she was working on.

“Psst, Emmy,” she heard from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw her friend Charlotte leaning forward trying to get her attention. “I’m stuck. What’s the answer on number five?”

“Shhh,” Emily whispered. “I can’t help you. That would be cheating.”

“Don’t be a dork,” Charlotte said. “You know I didn’t get a chance to study last night.”

Emily turned back to her own desk, and then she heard the words she dreaded to hear: “Come on, Emmy. If you’re really my friend, you’ll help me with this test.”

Talk about it: Was Charlotte right? Does true friendship really mean you’ll do whatever your friends ask, even when you know it’s wrong? Why—or why not?

This can be a hard truth for some of your friends to hear: True friends don’t always do what their friends want them to do.

So how do you know the right way to treat your friends?

Well, you can keep looking to God’s standards for friendships. You don’t have to wonder if his standards are true because they are based upon God himself—his character and nature. God’s standards of right and wrong are true at all times in all places for all people. The standards don’t change because your friends think they should.

Sometimes that might mean you can’t do what your friends want. But there’s good news: When God says something is right, you can count on it to bring his good into your life—sometimes later, often sooner.

Next time you have a question about how to be a true friend, look to God’s Word. You will discover that honesty is always right in your friendships because God is a true God—who is always honest. Friendship based on being honest and truthful is always right even if you lose a “friend” or two in the process. And when you let God be the model for your friendships, you’ll be sure to make friendships that last.

TALK: Why would you want to handle your friendships according to God’s standards of right and wrong?

PRAY: Lord, help us not to give in when our friends want things that aren’t what you want. Help us encourage them to seek God’s best in their lives.

ACT: Have certain friends been causing you to give up your standards—getting you to do things you know are wrong? How are you going to break that bad habit today?

 

 

“The Smartest Kid in the World”

Bible Reading:   Proverbs 9:9-12

If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.   Proverbs 9:12

THREE PEOPLE—a minister and two kids—once went on a short sight-seeing flight in a small, four-passenger plane. One of the kids had just been honored in a national newsmagazine as “the smartest kid in the world.”

Suddenly, the pilot shouted to his passengers over the roar of the engine. “We’ve got a big problem!” he said. “Our gas tank has a leak in it, and we’re going to run out of gas in just a couple minutes. We’re going to have to jump!”

“That’s not so bad,” the minister said, forcing a nervous smile. “I’ve always wanted to learn to skydive!”

The pilot shook his head. “We only have three parachutes. One of us isn’t going to make it! I’ve got a family. I can’t leave them alone without a father.”

“Well, I’m the smartest kid in the world,” said the one kid. “I may be the only person who can discover a cure for cancer or AIDS or something like that! You two will have to fight this out between you.” And with that, the kid grabbed one of the parachutes and jumped.

The minister turned to the other kid and the pilot. “You take the other two parachutes,” he told them. “I’m not afraid to die.”

“Thanks,” the other kid said. “But we’ve got nothing to worry about. The ‘smartest kid in the world’ just jumped out of the plane with my backpack!”

The “smartest kid in the world” wasn’t so smart, was he? He made a foolish decision—not just because he took a backpack instead of a parachute, but also because he made a selfish decision. And he paid for his choice!

You may not be as foolish or as selfish as that kid, but you may discover (if you haven’t already) that wrong choices often have a high price. Lying may get you into more trouble. Cheating in school may get you suspended or expelled. Trying to hurt other people may hurt you more than them.

The Bible says, “If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer” (Proverbs 9:12). In other words, godly wisdom and right choices pay off—maybe not right away or maybe not for a long time. But if you make a habit of making right choices, you will benefit in many lasting ways. If you don’t… well, just don’t go jumping out of any airplanes.

REFLECT: Who do you think has more fun: those who are always getting into trouble or those who follow the rules? Have you ever been sorry you made a wrong choice? Have you ever enjoyed any rewards for making right choices? Which are you: a person who is becoming wise or a person who scorns wisdom?

PRAY: “Lord, I want to be wise in making right choices. Please teach me to be wise and help me to make wise choices today.”