Fine Lines: Should we have friends who don't love Jesus? [Proverbs 13]

Proverbs 13:20 "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

I had a couple of friends in high school who really didn’t love Jesus. Oh, if you asked them, they might say they were Christians, they might even say that they loved God. But their words and actions proved otherwise.

While they were my friends, and we enjoyed laughing and hanging out together, I invariably found myself in situations with them where I felt pressure to do something that I knew was un-Godly, un-Christlike. I hated those crucial moments, those "Crossroads". I did not always make the wisest decisions in those moments, rejecting the truth of God, and choosing, rather, to sin with them. I'm thankful that God let me experience His conviction in times like those, and that He didn't just give up on me. I'm also so grateful for the grace He so often gave to respond in Godly ways to the pressure, and to walk away from those situations that would have saddened His heart.

Is it wrong to have friends like that?

Two truths we find in God’s Word related to relationships call for wisdom in practical application. Living daily in these truths can often feel like walking a tightrope.

Yes, we need to hangout with people who are lost without Jesus. Isn’t that what we see our Master doing, as He walked (literally) from place to place, healing and teaching, rebuking and preaching? Did He not stop to hang out with broken, sinful people, eating with them and conversing with them? Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Two ways we can do that is by loving Him more than anyone or anything, and by loving people enough to make them followers of Jesus, as well. This means God wants us to be with people, all kinds of people.

It is also true that we are not to walk in the ways of the world. The Bible talks a lot about walking. I’ve had brothers in Christ ask me, “How’s your walk with the Lord?” What’s the deal with “walking”? When we are walking with someone, it means that we are going in the same direction together. In life, it’s impossible for us to partner with a rebel of Jesus (we are all rebels against God before He saves us) without suffering harm, without becoming foolish and losing our way, without being sucked into worldly, ungodly ways.

A couple of practical suggestions: First, when you spend time with your non-Christian friends, make sure you’re not the only believer; make it a point of having at least one or two Christian friends with you. This makes it easier for you not to go along with something your unbelieving friends want to do that you know would be disappointing to God. It also provides more opportunity for you to more naturally converse about the things that are important to you, which, of course, includes your relationship with Jesus.

Second, don’t let yourself get interested in a person of the opposite sex who is not a whole-hearted follower of Jesus. Remember that the most discouraging moments of loneliness you may feel as a single are nothing compared to the isolation, frustration, suffering and regret you will experience if you choose to marry a person who does not love Jesus.

During high school and college, I would sometimes listen to the music of Wayne Watson. Great voice, great songwriter. Below, I’ve cut and pasted portions of the lyrics from a song he wrote called “The Fine Line” that kind of help illustrate what I’m talking about.

I pray that God will bless you with His wisdom today, as you walk the fine lines.

The Fine Line

by Wayne Watson

There's a fine line
Between taking bread with a lost man
And being consumed by his way
While reaching out in love
Temptation's right at your door
Guard what you're thinkin' of
It's a fine line

[Chorus]

So where do I walk, Where is my place
The straight and the narrow
The road of grace
Holdin' fast to You, Walkin' at Your pace
Walkin' on the fine line
Walkin' on the fine line
Walkin' on the fine line

When I hide my eyes
From the darkest of our life's insanity
From the worst of the world's profanity
I've gotta be careful
I don't miss anyone in need of me
It's a fine line--Oh yes, it's a fine line

Do dogs go to Heaven? [Proverbs 12]

It must be dozens of times that I've heard you ask me about what Heaven is going to be like, and very often, you've asked about animals and whether or not they will spend eternity with us.

All I can tell you is that we humans are created in the image of God. We're different from animals. There's nothing I've read in the Bible that seems to show that animals and pets will be in Heaven.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be any animals there, either.

Usually, when you've asked, I think my answer to you included a statement something like this: Heaven is going to be so wonderful that even if your pets and animals you love are not there, it won't matter at all to you, because whatever you are going to experience in Heaven will be infinitely more enjoyable than anything you've experienced on earth, including your love for and enjoyment of animals.

But there's another question that I think God would say is more important that "do dogs go to Heaven?" Proverbs 12:10 says, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast." Right now, in this life, how do you treat animals?

More than likely, the background here in 12:10 is farming. Does a man take care of the ox, or his donkey, which labors for him in the fields, or helps him get from his home to the market? Does he feed and water his animals? Does he abuse them, strike them unnecessarily?

I don’t think this applies to hunting. When you kill an animal, a deer for example, for food, that’s not being cruel to the animal. This is God’s provision for man. Hunters are more often the best conservationists and usually more appreciative of animals and their habitats than non-hunters.

Thankfully, I’ve observed all three of you being very kind to animals. That’s not true of everyone.

We went to a cookout at our neighbor’s house one day. I was out in the yard, helping the dad grill some burgers. His dog did something that the dad really didn’t like. I don’t really remember what it was, but I know for certain the dog did nothing worthy of a hard kick to his backside, but that’s exactly what my friend did. He kicked his dog really hard near the dogs hind legs and then said something to me like this: “You know, I think a dog is just a dog, and every now and then you gotta just kick ‘em.”

The way you treat animals can be an indication of how close you are to God. It shows whether or not you are allowing His righteousness to rule, or your own self-will, emotions and/or understanding.

So, no, I’m afraid that I cannot answer the question about doggies and heaven. But I would say enjoy your animals today; be kind to them. I think that Heaven will be more enjoyable for you as a result, wonderful beyond imagination, with or without animals.

When you're confused...Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11

There is a place in Scripture which says that God is not the author of confusion. In other words, if you are feeling confused, frustrated, burdened about not knowing what is the best way to go, you can be assured that this is not coming from God.

"The integrity of the upright guides them..." (11:2) With "integrity", I believe we get the picture of someone who is a child of the Creator God, who has been given the righteousness of
God. This person is not confused or bewildered, is not overcome by feelings of not knowing what to do, because there is always and forever only one thing to do, or better, only one thing to be.

"Be" the person God has re-created you to be, through the Cross of Christ. He loves you unconditionally, and you belong to Him.

"Do" the will of God, which He has clearly revealed, and continues to reveal to you, by His Word. He has put His Spirit in you to remind you, at this and any other moment, of His wisdom and His ways.