- Proverbs 17:12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is said that you will you will be able to count on one hand your true-blue friends at the end of your life. I don’t know about that. I hope to live my life in such a way that when I come to the end it I will have more than five close friends.
However, if pressed, I could give you a short list of my closest friends. There is nothing unusual about that, we value having friends and will go to great lengths to cultivate and keep friendships.
But here’s another list you need to keep: A list of people who you do not want as friend.
Do you know people who every time you’re around them you’re the worse for it? It may be their negative attitude or their harmful lifestyle or their bad reputation (and you are considered guilty by association). It may be people who abuse you and demean you and take advantage of you. But any way you draw it up – they are bad news.
You’d better put them on your list – your “to be avoided at all cost list” // you’ll be better for it. Remember, there are just some people who you can’t help. You pray for them, hope the best for them, never malign them or treat them unkindly, but you do keep a good long distance from them.
The Apostle Paul says it well: Now I urge you, brethren, note (make a list) those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)
The ONE THING 