Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT)
Who do you allow into your inner circle? Our relationships affect us more than we realize. Too often, we give up our peace by letting the wrong people into our inner circle.
We need to create our lives on purpose, and that includes intentionally choosing our close friends. The truth is that no one has the right to walk into your inner circle unless they earn your trust.
What happens if a close friend breaks your trust? Forgive them, but remember that forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean restoring the relationship to where it was. Sometimes, the people who have broken your trust may need to be kept at arm’s length, unless they are willing to earn back your trust.
You might ask, “Don’t we need to walk in love and do what we can to heal relationships?” Of course we do! Romans 12:18 (NKJV) says, As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
However, there are times when we need to have the courage to create boundaries—even with family, if necessary. The Bible tells children to obey their parents, not adults to obey their parents. At some point, even your parents need to earn the right to be in close relationship with you.
I’m not saying that every time there’s a problem, the friendship is over. No one is perfect, and all relationships require work. The good news is we can use the principles in God’s Word to build great relationships!
God’s Word shows us how to speak the truth in love, make peace, solve problems and work through difficult situations. Treat everyone with love, and ask God to guide you. He’ll give you wisdom to change what you can and to set healthy boundaries in your relationships.