Avoiding bad relationships
3a. Read Proverbs 22:24 and 25.
“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Pro 22:25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
What kind of relationship should be avoided?
A relationship with an angry person/ do not go with a furious person…people who are hostile about everything…..people who are contentious…
3b. Why? So that you do not become like them and get snared* to do evil things.
*The idea of a snare is to get trapped in something from which you cannot escape…..Snares are not out in the open, they are concealed as soon as you see it…get out.
4. Read Proverbs 20:19.
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”
a.) What kind of person should be avoided according to this verse?
A talebarer, a gossiper, someone who talks too much…. Keep in mind that a flatter is much different than someone giving a compliment…a flatter’s intentions in their heart usually want something.
b.) Why do you think Solomon gave this warning?
They may be insincere or just plain false. We know from the bible that a fool is known by his words…If your heart is saved, there should be good flowing out of your mouth not deceitfulness.
5. Proverbs 23:20 and 21 and 28:7 refer to another relationship to avoid.
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:” “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Pro. 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
a.) What is it? Winebibbers/Drunkards as well as gluttons.
b.) What is gluttony? Excess in eating…all the time…extravagant appetite for food. Luxuory of the table…voracity of appetite….also found in Strong’s…excessive an moral character where you are out of control.
*righteous men…driven by their passions which are out of control.
c.) What character trait that we have already studied in Proverbs is the opposite of gluttony? Self Control!
6. According to Proverbs 24:1 and 2, what is yet another relationship to avoid?
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. “
Do not desire to be with evil men….those type of people that plan troublemaking or devise violence…. do not desire to be with these type of people….
How can you help your teenagers see the wisdom of this verse? For starters…memorize the verse…get the word of God in your mind in your heart. Model this behavior in your home…don’t watch T.V. programs that promote this type of behavior.
7. Read Proverbs 19:4 and 6 and 14:20.
Proverbs 19:4-Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
Proverbs 19:6-Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
What do you think these verses teach about friendships? There are many who want to be your friend when you are paying the tab---but once the money is not for their benefit they tend to disappear. those with money will always have those seeking after them for monetary favors… Seek friends for their Godly qualities not for material possessions.
8. The prodigal son in the story Jesus told is a good example of this kind of relationship. Read Luke 15:11-15 with the thought in mind that the prodigal’s “riotous living” included companions.
Luk 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
What happened when the money ran out?
No one was around when all the money was gone and he found himself working feeding pigs.
This type of person was living according to worldly passions…”Living it up”… This type of person had rebellion in their heart…was dissatisfied with what was in his Father’s house….This type of riotous living is usually done with friends not by ones-self…and when these type of friends get together there are no restraints no controls…
True friends don’t change and turn with the weather…Christ is a friend that loves at all times.
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I’ll leave you with this for today as there is much to get done here around my house…enjoy 
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