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• German Proverb: A clear conscience is a soft pillow.
• Arab Proverb: A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
• Persian Proverb: A broken hand works, but not a broken heart.
• Italian Proverb: A closed mouth catches no flies. ( I love this one)
• Irish Proverb: A friend’s eye is a good mirror.

Short phrases from around the world that tell the truth without giving you a sermon. Just today I ran across a Japanese proverb that tells a very good truth that we need to dwell on for a moment. The proverb goes like this, “When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” Good thought, lets talk about it.

To feel the full impact of this statement we must ask ourselves who are our friends and what do they reveal about us? For instances if someone is a close friend they normally hold to the same morals as we do. No one is going to hang out with someone who is constantly stepping on our ‘moral shoes.’ Morals in this instance would be any number of things but let’s just consider the word to be standards. Do your friends hold to God’s standards as held out by the Bible or do they hold to the world’s ideas.

If we don’t agree with them on how we choose to live out our live how can we really enjoy their company? Ask yourself this question, “Do I enjoy being with people who do not hold to my standards?” The answer is of course no. If that is the case how can they be a close friend? Or maybe the more pressing question is if they are a good friend what does that say about your character?

What about the language they use or the way they talk about others. Few people can stand by and hear gossip and not listen in. If your friends are the type of people who are constantly speaking about others, will you not be the same kind of person? If they are using foul language will you not pick up on the habit?

Let me give you a Richard proverb that goes with this conversation, “You are who your close friends are.” You don’t buy that, well that is okay; let me shoot you a similar proverb from the Bible. Paul writes these words in the book of 1^st Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Don’t fool yourself for one second, when people look at you they see your friends. That might not be completely fair but no matter if we like it or not our friends say something about us.

What are you’re friend’s life saying about you?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. Amplified Bible

Prayer: Dear Lord, lead us in choosing our friends and who it is who influences us wisely. Help us to see our influence on others and take stock in the way we lead our lives. God you are good to lead us and to provide wisdom for us, have us to use it. We ask these things in the name of He who loves us most, Christ.