Does it matter who my friends are?So what did we talk about last week?We talked about building good friendships, how do we do that. We talked about choosing wisely in regards to friends. So, this week we are going to talk about why it matters who your friends are. So, by a raise of hands, who in here thinks that who your friends are is important. Why?Is there anyone in here who thinks that who your friends are is really not that big of deal. Why?And so tonight, we are talking about who your friends are. Is it a big deal?For those who say it matters...what it someone says, yeah, my friends might not be the greatest people, but I'm not like how they are, we just hang out and have fun.Now, this is an argument that when you say it in your head it sounds great, but when you say it out loud it doesn't sound great. But the problem is, people say it to themselves all the time.Junior highers, high schoolers, even adults are really great at convincing themselves that certain things are ok when they are not.Now, why do you think someone might convince themselves that even though their friends really aren't nice people, they don't act the way that God would want. That its not a big deal. That it is ok anyway. Why do you think someone would think like that.They want to be cool. They want to fit in.They don't think their friends are going affect them.What if, what if they don't have any friends? What if these are the only friends that this kid has.Yeah, they may not be the best people in the world and they may not do all the right things, but at least I have friends.Relationships, friendships, mean a lot. They are important. God made us to have them. And if you don't have friendship or there is a friendship that you want to have...you might overlook some things, like sin, in order to get that friendship. Or you might overlook some things, like sin, in order to keep a friendship that you already have.Thats why you following along with your friend when you know they are doing something that is wrong, because that friendship is important to you. You don't want to lose it. And what if you say no and they don't want to hang out with you any more. You just lost a friendship.But your friendship and relationship with Jesus Christ is way more important than any friendship you have here on earth.So, lets see what the bible says about why friendship matters."Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits." 1 Corinthians 15:33"Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare." Proverbs 22:24-25So, If you are good and you surround yourself with evil what happens. You are corrupted.If you hang out with an angry person all the time what will happen? You will learn his ways. You will be influenced.What are some other ways that people can influence negatively.Gossiping (amanda on sunday), those who have a critical and negative spirit (they always have something negative or bad to say), resentful toward authority (don't respect their parents).If you are are constant contact with this type of stuff from your friends I can promise you that you are going to start doing the same types of things. And I can promise that because that is what the bible says will happen.If you are around people that are always getting in trouble. Guess what, you are going to get into trouble.If you hang out with people who use bad language all the time that is what you are going to end up doing. If you are a positive person and you hang out with people that are always negative. You are going to start being negative.If you hang out with people that gossip all the time, that is what you are going to start doing too.And a lot of times people have that mindset I talked about earlier where they think they are not going to be like that. That they can just be friends and it wont be a big deal. I'm not going to fall into what they do. I'm better than that. I'm a strong willed person.Chair Illustration.Now, what about when ___ pulled _____ off the chair? How hard was that? How hard was it for ___ to pull ____ up onto the chair. Now, what do you think this illustrates regarding your friendships. It is way easier for someone that you are in a friendship with, who is not trying to please God, to pull you into sin than for you to pull them out.And it makes sense. Its much harder to say no we shouldn't be doing this, to stand up, than it is to just go along with what your friend is doing.And that is why the bible says this. If you surround yourself with friends who are not wanting to please God in their actions. You will become corrupt. Pulled down into sin.And usually it happens without you even realizing it is.So, the question becomes. Who are your friends? So, I want you guys to think about it. Who is the frend or who are the friends that you surround yourself with the most? What friend or friends do you spend the most time with in your personal life.Now, is that person someone that you want to be like? Are the traits that they have traits that you want to exhibit in your own life? Do you want to be like those people. And if the answer is no, I don't really want to be like them or do the things that they do. Then you need to figure out what you need to do. Stop spending so much time with them. Be more of a casual friend. Find a new group of friends. Whatever.There are negative traits that I got from my friends growing up that I wish that I didn't. And if your closest people, those who you spend most of your time with are people that are not trying to please God its going to be really hard for you.Proverbs 6:27Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?Matthew 5:13-16You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.And that is a great question to ask yourself about someone you want to be friends with or something that you are friends with. Do I want to be like this person. And obviously, I'm not talking about shes the most popular girl in school I want to be like her. Or man he owns at basketball I want to be friends with him so I can be on his team. I'm talking about internal stuff, hes really open with talking about God and his faith, I want to be like that. Or he's a really positive person, I want to be like that.Ideally, You want to have friends thats makes you better. People that invest in you spiritually and encourage you and tell you the truth when you need. Friends that would tell you no if you were leading them into sin.?