Just as there’s light and darkness, hot and cold, dry and wet, there are also good and bad people in this world. They are everywhere, all around us, far and near. And to top it off: they don’t use ID tags, saying “good person” or “bad person” on their foreheads. Quite the contrary, appearances are deceiving. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing and sheep that are labeled as wolves but they’re not. And that’s where the problem lies.

Friends influence us. Whether we like it or not, we are affected by the environment we live in. If we choose friends who are a bad influence, in due time they will surely influence us to do what’s wrong. Curiously, the opposite doesn’t usually occur.

Among many other things, bad friends can lead people to these eight consequences:

•    Addictions (Try this, you’ll like it.)
•    Inappropriate places and environments (“Let’s go, everyone’s going to be there…”)
•    Bad decisions (“If I were you, I would…”)
•    Promiscuity, betrayal (Stop being a loser, live your life…” “The way that he [she] treats you, he [she] deserves to be cheated on…”)
•    To feel anger towards the same people (“I hate so and so, I don’t know why you like them…”)
•    Loss of one’s virtues and principles (“You can’t be such a goody-goody…”)
•    Distance you from God (“Why go to church, God is everywhere…”)
•    Marriage and family problems (“Let’s go, don’t let your wife/husband/father/mother boss you around…”)

Perhaps you say, “Nah, I know how to keep things separate, I don’t allow myself to be so easily influenced.” Then analyze your past. Notice how many things you ended up doing because of the influence of others and then regretted it afterwards. If you’re honest, you’ll see that it has happened to you before, probably more than once. I admit it’s happened to me too. That’s why I learned my lesson.
The harsh reality is that there are people who are only good if they stay far away from us.

Perhaps one of the best actions to put into place at the start of the New Year is to leave certain friendships. Starting off with the ones on Facebook and extending this to your workplace, old friends, church friends and perhaps even family members – a deep cleanse. Those who add value to your life, get to stay. Those who reduce it are out. No pity.

Love everyone. Choose your friends wisely. They will influence you.

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