03 Mar 14 Friends All Couples Should Beware Of
We all know that the importance of choosing our influence cannot be over emphasized. As individuals, the people we associate with should be constantly evaluated and filtered because we are influenced and affected and infected by our relationships.
God is so good, He gives us guidelines on how to live our everyday lives, He does not leave us clueless at all, His word covers every single aspect of our lives, even our relationships.
In marriage our relationships are of extreme importance too, our marriages could go right or wrong based on the kind of people we let influence us. Now, I have heard people say no one can influence them to do wrong, while that might be true, it becomes almost impossible when we constantly and closely hang with “wrong” people. When we spend time with people long enough, we begin to take on their kinds of thoughts and perspectives and patterns.
Today, I share with couples, the people I believe they should not bring into their “inner circles”.
1. Friends who think marriage cannot be blissful
2. Friends who think you should never trust your spouse
3. Friends who tell you your love for your spouse is too much
4. Friends who tell you that you are taking your marriage too seriously
5. Friends who tell you it is preposterous to stick to one person all your life
6. Friends who do not believe marriage is created by God and should be run by His Word
7. Friends who tell you that it is foolish to tell your spouse the truth
8. Friends who never agree that marriage is worth any effort
9. Friends who always want to make you see that your spouse is a bad person
10. Friends who always discuss other people’s marriage with you
11. Friends who always want you to spend time with them away from your spouse
12. Friends who have do not believe and have really no value/respect for marriage
13. Friends who always want to convince you into sin
14. Friends who are not under Christ’s Lordship
There are many scriptures to guide our relationships but I will share just a few here with you:
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge. Proverbs 14:7
A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. Proverbs 16:29 (NASB)
Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1
Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Psalms 119:115
He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33
I have seen and heard how bad friendships have adversely affected marriages, so I thought to share with us some people/friends every husband and wife should refuse to be influenced by.
Do you think this is even an important topic? Are there any other kinds of friends you believe couples should beware of? Please add to the list by stating in the comment box below.
Copyright © Ugochi Oritsejolomisan 2014
Photo Credit: WallpapersHD
Sharing With: Living Proverbs, MYHSM, Wedded Wednesday
Lucky Ubani
Posted at 20:45h, 15 MarchYou are spot on, as marriage is a treasure worthy of protection. keep up the good work.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 22:21h, 16 MarchIt is indeed! Thanks a lot for coming by sir, do have a super blessed week ahead!
Beth
Posted at 18:27h, 05 MarchWhat a rich and wonderful resource you’ve created, Ugochi! Yes, yes, yes! This is so important and often not talked about but I sure see the effects of those bad friendships in some of my friends. It breaks my heart to see them “playing with fire” just because they grew up with that bad influence or feel connected in some way. There are things to prune from our lives and the influence of bad friends is definitely at the top of that list! Love this and will share on Twitter, sweet friend!
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 15:14h, 06 MarchIt is not often discussed, but the impact is real. God help us to choose our friends wisely.
Thank you very much Beth, for sharing with your friends and for your encouragement as always. Do have a super blessed day!
Love
Justin M. Davito
Posted at 23:56h, 03 MarchSome of those, if a friend told me that, I would not be friends anymore with them. 🙂
-Justin
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 22:59h, 04 MarchMe neither Justin…
Lisa notes
Posted at 23:10h, 03 MarchThese are good warnings, Ugochi. Our marriages are to be treasured and we don’t need to let them get dirtied up by people who can’t respect them. We need to set positive examples instead.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 22:59h, 04 MarchVery true, we should set good examples and not allow others influence us. Thanks a lot for coming by Lisa, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Brandi
Posted at 22:44h, 03 MarchI do understand your point… but on the other hand, maybe by accepting these type of people into your “inner circle” you can be a witness for how trust and honesty and commitment to one person can and does work. You can show how a love/marriage centered on God can bring a person happiness.
I’m a firm believe that if you turn people away because you’re afraid that person will affect your relationship with your spouse, you don’t have a very strong relationship with your spouse to begin with.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 22:08h, 04 MarchI know we can influence others for Christ, I have people who I am influencing intentionally, and that is because I see there willingness to be influenced. Others I have seen that are not interested in changing, they rather want me to think and be like them, those ones I distance from. I have seen well meaning believers trip and fall because they thought they could influence others who did not even think they need change, they ended up be the influence over the believer.
Jesus had unbelieving friends, but when it came to his “inner circles”, he was very choosy and intentionally so.
Thanks a lot for coming by and leaving this comment, I sure hope to see you more often, do have a super blessed day!
love
Susie (The Esthetic Goddess)
Posted at 15:36h, 03 MarchThis is actually an easy one for me simple because when someone shows their true self to not be as nice as they first presented I no longer have time for them. I always told my boys if you hang out with garbage you start to smell like garbage.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:05h, 04 MarchWow! Very profound statement Susie…It is so true and it got me thinking.
Thanks a lot for coming by and leaving this note, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Martha
Posted at 16:21h, 03 March“Friends who think you should never trust your spouse”…oh man, how quickly these “well-meaning friends” can undermine a relationship!!! I’ve learned that when people are constantly sowing seeds of negativity and doubt in your mind, it’s time to cut them out. They might say they’re only trying to keep you from wearing rose-colored glasses, or something such, but they don’t really have your best interests at heart; they’re just being destructive out of jealousy, bitterness, or some other toxic emotion.
Stopping by from SITS!! 🙂
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:01h, 04 MarchYes, if we cannot stop them from their negativity, then we should stop them from having the opportunity to sow it in us.
Thanks a lot for coming by and leaving this note. I hope to see you often, do have a super blessed day!
Love