Christian Friends, Neighbor Friends

We have very friendly neighbors, including a number of pleasant children the same age as my own children (and a few years older). My children have enjoyed getting to know them, and spending time with them. I want to have a ministry to these neighbors. (Let your light so shine among men…) I also  think it is good for our children to interact with unsaved children to some degree. However, my children have not made a profession of faith; so, I don’t have a desire for them to be “missionaries” at this point. Regardless, I believe it is biblical that their closest friends are “church friends.” The Bible has a lot to say about choosing friends. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed… Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners….

That means they probably need to spend more time with church friends than neighbor friends.

• That means I have work to do, to get them together with church friends more often. It’s not always convenient, and it takes work, especially when I’m new to a place and just getting to know people.
• I also need to be deliberately teaching them what God’s Word says about friends. Maybe at breakfast I’ll start asking them to listen as I read a chapter in Proverbs and see if they can hear what King Solomon says about friends.
• This also means that I’ll probably join up with some home school groups. I tend to avoid big crowds and a lot of the home school culture, but if I am loving my children and not myself, I think I’m going to have to venture a little bit into those waters.
• I also need to be praying that God gives me wisdom to find godly friends in our new city and church.

More on this topic tomorrow.