1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

This is a powerful teaching when it comes to having a loving family because it brings to light the fact that our family members are not the only ones who play a part; our friends do, too.

The Book of Proverbs says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” The type of friends we have plays a big role in determining what kind of people we become, but it also can impact our family life. Do your friends complain about their family? Do they have a negative attitude about brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives?

You can’t spend hours and hours around something or someone and not be impacted by it, either negatively or positively. Yes, you can be an encouragement to other people who are struggling with family life, but don’t be naïve – they can rub off on you, as well. Complaining, criticizing, anger, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness…this is a type of “bad company” the Apostle Paul is warning us about.

So, if you find yourself having a bad attitude about your family life, you might want to take a look at the company you are keeping. Their bad attitude might be turning into your own.

APPLICATION: Without naming names, discuss the friendships that you have outside of your family. Do they love and respect their own families, or do they spend a lot of time complaining about them? Pray together and ask God to give you the wisdom to make the right kinds of friends…as well as the wisdom to change course where needed.